Following Thursday night’s spectacular performances in the $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*, show jumping fans returned to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair on Friday afternoon to watch USA’s David Raposa and his own Iliona capture the $35,000 Devon Speed Derby CSI4*, sponsored by Glycogard. A total of 24 international athletes vied for top honors in the one-round, faults-converted speed competition, designed by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge. Catherine Tyree (USA) and Mary Tyree’s Catungee held an early lead in the class, finishing in a quick 60.250 seconds. A number of athletes had a difficult time matching her pace until Mattias Tromp (USA) entered the ring aboard Beyaert Farm Inc.’s Eyecatcher. Tromp managed to navigate the course in 59.790 seconds, snatching the lead from Tyree. Tromp held his lead for nine more rounds but Friday’s dash for the cash ultimately went to Raposa. Piloting Iliona, a Belgian Warmblood mare, the pair just narrowly beat Tromp’s time, shaving off 4/10ths of a second to finish in 59.750 seconds, to claim the winning title. Second place went to Tromp and Eyecatcher, while Tyree and Catungee rounded out the top three. Raposa has been competing Iliona, who he’s owned for two years, in internationally ranked competition since August 2017. After collecting multiple grand prix wins in Florida this winter, Friday’s win will mark one more victory to add to their collection thus far in 2018. Following Devon, Raposa plans to compete Iliona at the Lake Placid Horse Show. To conclude Friday’s international show jumping competition, Raposa also received the Salem Perpetual Trophy for his first place finish.
