Spruce Meadows North American - Sunday

The final day of the Spruce Meadows “North American” Tournament began with the 1.50 metre Sun Life Financial Reach for the Sun. The Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed course featured 16 jumping efforts over 530 metres of course and a time allowed of 80 seconds.

There were 30 entries in the competition all looking for a win to close out their Spruce Meadows Summer Series. Only four were good enough to move onto the jump-off round. It would be a foot race to the finish line with speedy Beezie Madden (USA), Jaime Azcarraga (MEX), Kent Farrington (USA) and the always threatening Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)

Azcarraga was the first to clear the first round course so he was the first to jump-off. Riding Celsius a 10 year-old Holstein stallion the Mexican put together another clear round and set the time to beat at 33.36 seconds.

Neither Rodrigo Pessoa nor Kent Farrington was able to best Azcarraga’s time. Pessoa was clear with his stallion Champ but his time of 35.17 seconds was well short of the pace.

The big ring got the best of Farrington’s 8 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Uceko as the pair finished the jump-off with 10 jumping faults. They would have to settle for fourth place.

It was Speedy Beezie who came up with the best time, 33.36 seconds. Madden was riding Onlight her 10 year-old Holstein mare. “Last year she came here and she looked like she couldn’t a 1.45 metre competition,” said Madden of her mare. “She’s finally had a breakthrough and gotten comfortable here,” continued the champion of the Sun Life Financial Reach for the Sun.

Sun Life Financial Reach for the Sun top 10

1-         Beezie Madden                     USA               Onlight

2-         Jaime Azcarraga                   MEX               Celsius

3-         Rodrigo Pessoa                     BRA               Champ 163

4-         Kent Farrington                    USA               Uceko

5-         Marie Hecart                         FRA                Catalina

6-         Guy Thomas                         NZL               Peterbilt

7-         Pablo Barrios                        VEN               Lagran

8-         Antonio Maurer                     MEX                Callao

9-         Jose Rega                            URU                Robby Lee

10-       Mario Deslauriers                  CAN               Vicomte D

The final competition of the Spruce Meadows “North American” 2009 edition was the Mercedes-Benz Classic. The Derby competition has been played out on its historic course since 1985.

Clears have been few and far between in this derby and today was no different. There were 18 entries that braved the 23 jumping effort course that spans nearly a kilometre long. Every natural obstacle on the Spruce Meadows International Ring comes into play challenging even the bravest horse.

There were plenty of story lines for the Mercedes-Benz Classic, would Mario Deslauriers (CAN) be the first person to ever win both Spruce Meadows derbies in one year? Would Beezie Madden win her last ever derby with her great stallion Judgment? Could John Anderson successfully defend his title with his mare Gesine 36?

The story that finally played out was greater than any of those. With 18 demanding rounds of competition complete there was one clear winner, Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2.

Howard made her way around the course with 10 year-old Oldenburg gelding with hardly any troubles. The pair had an early rail, the second fence came down. “You can imagine my thoughts as I knew we were short and still had the whole course to go,” said Howard.

The pair was perfect for the rest of the course. They had no trouble with the bank, water, table top or the Devil’s Dyke. It was a four fault round, and Leslie Howard’s third time winning the Mercedes-Benz Classic. “He jumped beautifully, he loves the banks and the ditches and just feels comfortable,” said Howard. “This is our biggest win of the year,” added the champion.

Beezie Madden and Judgement finished their derby career today with a 12 fault round and a sixth place finish. Madden was still happy with her 18 year-old stallion. “There are just so many things to the derby, but he still did really well,” said Madden.

Mercedes-Benz Classic top 10

1-         Leslie Howard                       USA               Lennox Lewis 2

2-         Jill Henselwood                     CAN               Black Ice

3-         Ian Millar                             CAN               Redefin

4-         John Anderson                     CAN               Gesine 36

5-         Jill Henselwood                     CAN               Special Ed

6-         Beezie Madden                     USA                Judgement

7-         Shane Sweetnam                  IRL                Little Emir

8-         Mario Deslauriers                  CAN               Paradigm

9-         Marie Hecart                         FRA                Why Not

10-       Eric Lamaze                          CAN               Lord du Janlie