Millar Posts Only Clear to Win CN Grand Prix at Bromont International

Ian Millar and In Style won the $75,000 Canadian National Grand Prix at Bromont International. Photo © Professionals

It took only one round for Ian Millar and his 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, In Style, to win the $75,000 CN Grand Prix at Bromont International Sunday.  They were the only duo out of the 25 entered that were able to complete the course set by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge without any faults. 

“It’s not often that you win a competition this way in this day and age,” said Millar of Perth, ON, Canada’s 8-time Olympian.  “There are so many top combinations and they watch long enough and they will solve the problems.  But today they just didn’t.”  Millar said the 1.60m track suited In Style, who loves a real test.

Jonathan Asselin and Luxgood just missed forcing a jump-off when they also went clear but crossed the finish line in 86.13 seconds, just over the 85 seconds allowed.  Asselin, of Calgary, AB, said he was very happy with the result, especially since Luxgood was competing with a sore mouth.  “I had a tough time turning him in two spots,”  he said.  Asselin said that after some dental work, the 10-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding should be in good form for next weekend’s World Cup Qualifier in Palgrave.  “He’s scopey and he’s brave and it’s just a matter of putting it all together.  I’ve really babied him along for three years now and he’s ready to go and do the jump-offs at speed,” he said.

Fatigue on the last day of Bromont International seemed to be a factor for some of the horses, many of whom competed in several classes in very warm weather over the ten-days of the show, including the Kubota Cup Grand Prix the previous day.  Five took home the third-place ribbon after tying for third place by lowering a single fence.  Hometown favorite Mario Deslauriers incurred four-faults on the first fence on course with Paradigm, an 11-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding, and then lowered the last fence on course with Naomi, the 10-year-old mare that he was pairing with in only their third Grand Prix.

“I think the horses jumped really good,” said Deslauriers, who has acquired three top grand prix show jumpers within the last few weeks.  “I don’t think Paradigm has jumped so many big courses in a row.  And Naomi was just bad luck.  She was a bit tired from yesterday, but she jumped really beautiful.”

The CN Grand Prix was the final competition at Bromont International which hosted top level competition over ten days at the site of the 1976 Olympic events.  Show chairman Roger Deslauriers said he was very happy with the huge number of entries at the tournament, which was held two weeks later than usual this year.  He said it will be held on the new dates again next year, and will also be an FEI (International Equestrian Federation) rated show, giving Canada’s top riders the opportunity to collect international points.  Paying tribute to all the sponsors that supported the show, he said, “The more partners like Kubota and CN that equestrian sport can have, the bigger the sport will be and the happier the sponsor will be also.”

RESULTS
International Bromont
$75,000 CN Grand Prix

1.In Style/Ian Millar (Perth, ON) 0; $22,000
2.Luxgood/Jonathan Asselin (Calgary, AB) 1; $16,000
3.Roxanne/Eric Flameng (Wellington, FL) 4; $5,580
3.Paradigm/Mario Deslauriers (Bromont, QC) 4; $5,580
3.Naomi/Mario Deslauriers (Bromont, QC) 4; $5,580
3.Melinda/Mac Cone (King, ON) 4; $5,580
3.Freestyle/Elliot Stone (Midland, ON) 4; $5,580