Cudomore and Conejo Win Kubota Cup Grand Prix at Bromont

Karen Cudmore and Conejo jump their way to the win in the $60,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix at Bromont International. Photo © Yavuz

Karen Cudmore and her 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion Conejo won the $60,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix at Bromont International Saturday, serving notice that the powerful duo that represented Canada at the 2002 World Equestrian Games is again a force to be reckoned with.  Three weeks ago they won the World Cup Qualifier in Blainville, QC, Conejo’s first Grand Prix outing since he was injured in 2002.

Saturday’s Kubota Cup jump-off was a real crowd pleaser, with 15 of the original 38 entries earning the right to return for a second round.  Hometown favorite Mario Deslauriers and Naomi, the 10-year-old mare that he was partnering with for only their second grand prix, temporarily took over the lead when they posted a clear second round in a time of 41.94 seconds.  Cudmore and Conejo, last to go in the class, managed to cover the ground just slightly faster, crossing the finish line in 41.08 seconds, the quickest of all the second-round challengers.

“My horse doesn’t turn that great but I knew he could sprint across the ground pretty fast, and I think that’s where I won the class,” Cudmore said later.  Deslauriers said that  leaving out a stride on his new mount would have given him the extra second he needed for the win, but doesn’t know her that well yet. “She’s just starting to do this and now I can grow up with her a little bit,” he said. Earlier he had a second clear round with the 8-year-old Grap Lando, but chose to negotiate the course more slowly with the still young Hannoverian.  They ended up seventh overall.

Cudmore credited Saturday’s win to Conejo’s physical improvement over the past two weeks he has spent at Bromont International, site of the 1976 Olympic equestrian events.  “He came into Blainville on pure heart and he ended up winning this one more on fitness,” she said, noting that she rode Conejo every day on encompassed by the property.  “He couldn’t have been a happier horse here for the last two weeks.” 

Deslauriers and Naomi won the top points towards the Eastern Canada Championship of the Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series at Bromont, the second of four stops in the Eastern division.  Cudmore, originally from Victoria, BC, did not receive any points for her win as she is competing in the Western Canada Division where she currently stands second and 12th with her two other horses, Southern Pride and Moxie.  She will be competing with them at the Western Division Championship Final at the Twin Oaks Derby in Richmond, BC on August 14.   The Eastern Division Final is on October 15 at the Maritime Winter fair in Halifax, NS.  Both Division champions will be rewarded with a crystal trophy and a Kubota RTV900 utility vehicle.  Top riders from both divisions will meet at the Royal Winter Fair November 5 for the Championship Final.

Visit the Kubota Cup website at www.kubotacup.ca

RESULTS
$60,000 KUBOTA CUP GRAND PRIX
Bromont International
July 30, 2005

1. Conejo/Karen Cudmore (Omaha, NB) 0 :0,41.08; $17,000
2. Naomi/Mario Deslauriers (Bromont, QC) 0,0 :41.94; $13,000
3. Mazelle/Eric Flaming (Wellington, FL) 0,0 :42.86; $6,500
4. Archie Bunker/John Pearce (Stouffville, ON) 0,0:43.47;  $6,000
5. Catesko/Laurie Bucci (St. Hilaire, QC) 0,0:44.26; $4,500
6. Ancho De Pomme (Midland, ON) 0,0:46.61; $3,000
7. Grap Lando/Mario Deslauriers (Bromont, QC) 0,0 :50.91; $2,500