Ian Millar and Dixson. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.
Calgary, AB, Canada – September 14, 2014 – The Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament CSIO 5* came to a thrilling conclusion today with the biggest show jumping event in the world, the $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex. Canadian show jumping legend Ian Millar and Dixson, owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, triumphed through two rounds and a jump-off of challenging equestrian sport over 20-year-old Reed Kessler (USA) and Cylana. Today’s event was the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, and Ian Millar is next in line to try and take equestrian sport’s most sought-after title.
Watch a video of highlights from Sunday’s ‘Masters’ competition!
More than 89,000 spectators were on hand at Spruce Meadows today to watch one of Canada’s most acclaimed athletes win for the third time on Sunday at the ‘Masters’. Millar, whose incredible career has spanned decades, won previous editions of this event in 1987 and 1991 with his famous mount Big Ben.
Watch an interview with Ian Millar!
Both courses today, set by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela, were extremely tall, technical, and challenging. “It was a fantastic day,” Palacios said. “For Ian to win in his home country is great. This is the third time I’ve had a jump-off here. The courses were really strong, heavy, the heights hard, the lines difficult. I am very happy. The team of Spruce Meadows, how they maintained the footing was incredible. The jump crew and groundskeepers, I thank all of them.”
In Round One, there were 10 clear rounds. Twelve returned for the second round, along with Kevin Staut (FRA) on Estoy Aqui de Muze (who had four faults in Round One) and Robert Whitaker (GBR) with Catwalk IV, who had one time fault. Staut and Whitaker had eight and 13 faults, respectively, in Round Two for ninth and 12th places.
Jerome Hurel (FRA) and Quartz Rouge had a rail and a time fault in Round Two to finish on five faults for sixth place. Alain Jufer (SUI) and Wiveau M tallied 13 faults for 11th place, and fellow Swiss rider Steve Guerdat on Nasa had nine faults for eighth place.
Kessler and Cylana were next in, and they recorded a brilliant second clear round. With a fist pump after going through the timers, Kessler would have to wait and see if anyone else could match her performance and take it to a jump-off. Two trips later, that’s just what would happen when Millar and Dixson galloped clear through the timers to the roar of the crowd.
In between Kessler and Millar, Marie Etter completed the course with four faults on Admirable for third place, ending a strong day for the Swiss team. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and Cabrio van de Heffinck were close to repeating their 2012 victory, but one rail and a time fault left them in fifth place. Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Zigali P S had nine faults, and Shane Breen (IRL) on Golden Hawk tallied 13 faults, which placed them seventh and 10th respectively.
Last in the ring, the crowd held their breath to see if it would be a three-way jump-off. It was not to be as one of the favorites, Beezie Madden (USA) and Simon, had one rail down and a time fault. They ended up in fourth place.
First in for the jump-off was Kessler on Cylana, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Skippy II x Darco owned by Kessler Show Stables. Kessler was fast and efficient, and Cylana made easy work of the jump-off course, finishing clear in 49.50 seconds.
Millar had the advantage of seeing Kessler go. He and Dixson, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Vigo D’Arsouilles x Olisco, made tighter turns and put the gas pedal down across the big grass field of the International Ring. When the timers stopped on a winning time of 47.33 seconds, the spectators gave a standing ovation to Millar.
“I had the good fortune of going second, so I saw exactly what she did,” Millar acknowledged. “Her strategy was exactly correct; she did just what I would have done and put just enough pressure on. I was quicker on the turn from (fence) one to two, and to the double liverpools. It was just a little here and there, and that was the difference.”
Millar seemed pleasantly surprised by the occurrence of factors that came together today for his third victory in what he calls “the most prestigious grand prix in the world.”
“I can honestly tell you that I never thought I’d win this grand prix again,” he admitted. “I won it twice before, and that was a long time ago. The sport has changed so much. I’m a little more mature than I was. These young people go plenty fast, and they’re really, really good. To go up against them is no easy task. The afternoon just seems to fly by. It happened so fast, and the tension is incredible. It’s a heck of a payday. It’s just a thrill beyond words.”
When asked about the difference winning the CP International now, at the age of 67, compared to his previous victories, he stated, “The perspective of time. I’ve had other horses and sometimes I’d walk a course and I’d look up at the sky and say, ‘Big Ben, where are you when I need you?’ I know he’d do it for fun. When you’ve had a great horse, this can sometimes be a bad thing for a rider because the next one doesn’t quite measure up. You just don’t get that many times in your life. I’ve had a lot of really good horses, but the great ones are elusive. Dixson is the real thing for me.”
Millar describes Dixson as “a little tricky to ride and train, a little strong.” He continued, “You don’t just take him head on, because he’ll just say, ‘Is that the best you got?’ You just gotta sell him on it and let him think it’s half his idea. He really, really wants to be a good horse. I’m very fortunate to have him. It’s really thrilling when you hope a horse is going to do this, and then they do it.”
Kessler was excited to be back at Spruce Meadows again after staying in Europe this summer to compete with trainer Marcus Ehning. “It just didn’t quite fit into my schedule,” she pointed out. “I really missed it because she’s just so spectacular here. I really wanted to make sure that I could come back here and jump the ‘Masters’. She jumps her best here. You just have a feeling with a horse; she loves this class. I know that if one day I can get it right, she’s going to win it. I thought the footing was impeccable, which is a testament to this show and their team. I’m really thankful that I could come this year.”
For Marie Etter, the experience of competing at Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ and finishing in third place is more than just a good result. The pair has been together for seven years; Etter found the now 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding by A Jungle Prince x Rhytmo competing in small national classes in Germany. “I fell in love when I saw his face, the eyes,” she said.
They worked up to the international level together, and Etter’s husband took over the ride when she was pregnant. Etter and Admirable teamed up again, but he ended up having two colic surgeries.
“He was dying. He spent two months in the clinic. We did everything for him. My groom did a really good job; he was there every day. We had a good relationship before, but after that, the connection is just amazing. I’m happy to be third, but I’m really happy how he fought for me. We do this because we love horses. When you feel your horse fighting for you and giving everything for you, that’s the best feeling,” she related.
Etter said it was a dream to be at Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, having watched the grand prix every year on television before. “I’m not used to jumping at this level. Calgary is really special. I was feeling a bit small the first day. Okay, I am small, but I was feeling really small! Today I’m feeling a little bit less small!” she said with a smile.
With his victory today, Millar is in the running for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The next leg is at CHI Geneva in December. While Millar originally hadn’t planned to show in Geneva, he said he would discuss with Dixson’s owners about taking the trip to Europe this winter. “Circumstances change plans. I think it would be a lovely idea to go to Geneva in December,” he remarked.
Millar never imagined that he would have such a payday when he started his career. He explained, “The way the sport has evolved is incredible. Every rider and horse is probably good enough to win this thing. The set of circumstances that have to come together to let you win it, it’s extraordinary. You couldn’t write the script on what it takes to win. When it happens, you really enjoy it.”
Olivier Philippaerts Tops $85,000 AKITA Drilling Parcours de Chasse 1.50m
In the opening event of the day, Olivier Philippaerts of Belgium and Carlito C set an early fast pace to come away with the win in the $85,000 AKITA Drilling Parcours de Chasse 1.50m. Carlito C, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Kannan owned by Frans Jens, sped through the faults converted course that featured the table bank and smaller derby bank. They stopped the timers in 83.350 seconds.
Five trips later, Shane Breen (IRL) and Calido Boy posted a time of 83.998 seconds, which would hold up for second place. Nearing the end of the course, Conor Swail and Martha Louise made a great bid, but an added four seconds for a rail down brought their time down to 84.010 seconds for third place.
Carlito C was originally a mount for Olivier’s brother, Nicola, who rode him for a year and a half. Olivier has now had the ride for five months. “It really went good together from the beginning. I already won a few classes in Europe. He’s doing a very good job,” he explained. “I brought him to Spruce Meadows because I think he jumps very good in the grass ring. He can do a bit of everything. Not the really big classes, but he’s a very good speed horse on grass, and up to 1.50m classes on grass, he can do that very well. I did a few derbies as well, (like) in Falsterbo.”
He continued, “Today I knew this was a class (he could) be really good in, so I was hoping to have a good result here. I didn’t see any other riders. My father told me that they were going really, really quick. You really have to risk everything, so that’s what I did. I just tried to go as fast as I could and hopefully it was enough today. I ended up winning it, so I’m happy with the result.”
Winning at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ is a family affair for the Philippaerts family; Olivier won the CP International in 2012, and last year his father, Ludo, won the opening Sunday competition. He said with a smile, “It’s very cool to come here with your family, with your father and your brother. It’s something to look forward to, to try and win these classes. My father won last year, and I won this year. Hopefully we can keep doing that the next few years!”
For full results and more information, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
For further information on the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, please visit www.rolexgrandslam.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the creation of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
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