Spruce Meadows North American - Friday

Two days, two victories, Eric Lamaze (CAN) has been on a bit of a winning streak this week. After some struggles throughout the Summer Series the Canadian Olympic Gold Medalists luck seems to be changing at the most opportune time.

There were 26 qualified for the Pepsi Challenge Winning Round. The first round course featured 15 jumping efforts over 525 metres and a time allowed of 79 seconds. The top 8 from that round moved onto to a winning round with a clean slate.

Competing over a shortened course the top 8 would have to worry about having the fastest time and riding clear. With Beezie Madden (USA), Ian Millar (CAN) and Eric Lamaze all looking for the top prize it was going to take a spectacular round to win the Pepsi Challenge.

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Canada’s Ian Millar pressed his 8 year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion Dryden around the course with speed. They earned a clear round and finished with a time of 43.119 seconds. With Beezie Madden still coming up Millar hoped that time would hold.

Madden is always fast, especially with victory on the line. She powered her mare Exclusive around the course with speed. The pair came home in 42.046 seconds. It was over a second faster than Millar’s time.

Riding his 9 year-old mare Take Off, Canada’s Eric Lamaze came into the ring. He rode Take Off aggressively around the course, knowing that speed was a must. When they came across the finish line the clock stopped at 43.042 seconds, four thousandths of a second faster than Madden.

“I feel like I should share this with her, it should be two firsts,” commented Lamaze after narrowly beating out Beezie Madden. Sharing the win wasn’t in the cards as winning by a nose is still a win.

The streak sets up well for Lamaze heading into tomorrow’s Queen Elizabeth II Grand Prix, where he will look to defend his title for the third year in a row. “When you’re on a roll it’s great. You feel like you can’t be beat,” said Lamaze.

Pepsi Challenge top 8

1-         Eric Lamaze              CAN               Take Off

2-         Beezie Madden          USA               Exclusive

3-         Ian Millar                  CAN               Dryden

4-         Tiffany Foster            CAN               Carlos De Noel

5-         Christina Marlin        CAN               Lakey

6-         Antonio Maurer          MEX               Valentina

7-         Beatriz Franco           MEX               Bravo De Mex

8-         Yann Candele            CAN               Mustique

Tonight’s competition was capped off with the Lafarge Cup. There were 24 entries through the gate for the 1.50 metre course. With 15 jumping efforts standing in the way of the finish line the race was on, only the top 8 would move onto the second round.

It was the always dangerous, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) that finished ahead of the crowd. Pessoa was joined in the jump-off by Beezie Madden, who had so narrowly lost the night’s earlier competition.

Madden had two mounts in the second round and was looking to finish with a better result. She rode herself into an early lead with Danny Boy, setting a time to beat of 46.70 seconds.

Guy Thomas (NZL) challenged Madden with his 9 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Peterbilt. They came home in a time of 43.06 seconds, taking Madden out of first place.

Last in the ring was Rodrigo Pessoa. Pessoa was riding Cazino, a 9 year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, it was going to have to be a perfect round if they wanted to beat the American. Pessoa pressed coming around the shortened course, finishing in 43.02 seconds.

“He’s jumped very good, he’s developed very well and this is a good way for him to finish his week’s here,” said Pessoa of winning mount. The win in the Lafarge Cup was the second win for Pessoa this week.

Looking forward at the weekend ahead Pessoa feels he is in good form for tomorrow’s grand prix, “Tomorrow we have a big day. I’ve had two wins this week which is great for going into the weekend,” added Pessoa after tonight’s win.

Lafarge Cup top 8

1-         Rodrigo Pessoa         BRA              Cazino

2-         Guy Thomas             NZL               Peterbilt

3-         Beezie Madden         USA               Danny Boy

4-         Jonathan Millar         CAN               Vianco V/D Rampaarden

5-         Marie Hecart             FRA               Lucas

6-         Alexa Weeks            USA               Madison

7-         Beezie Madden         USA               Onlight

8-         James Benedetto       USA              Comtesse Du Lys

Tomorrow’s feature competition, the $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup will begin at 12:00 pm in the Spruce Meadows International Ring. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is the second leg of the $1 million CN Precision Series. Ian Millar is riding for a $50,000 bonus should he win tomorrow’s Grand Prix.