The ‘Continental’ Tournament CSI 5* began at Spruce Meadows on Thursday with a big win for Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Victor in the $85,000 Husky Energy Classic. Out of 82 competitors, only five were able to go clear over the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course in the Meadows on the Green. Margie Engle (USA) and Royce finished second; Brianne Goutal (USA) and Orbetello placed third. The second week in Spruce Meadows’ Summer Series, the ‘Continental’ Tournament continues through Sunday, June 14. Upcoming highlights include Friday’s $126,000 Scotiabank Cup, Saturday’s $85,000 Repsol Cup, and Sunday’s $400,000 CP Grand Prix. For Thursday’s feature event, a challenging course and tight time allowed caused problems for many of the competitors. In addition to the five that made it to the jump-off, six other entries cleared the jumps, but finished on one time fault. A couple of the top horses and riders that made it to the jump-off also had challenges over the short course. Richard Spooner (USA) was first to jump-off with Chivas Z and ended in fifth place after a fall on course resulted in elimination. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Simon had an unfortunate rail at the first jump and placed fourth in 41.99 seconds. The final three competitors were all clear in round two. Margie Engle clocked in at 38.48 seconds with Elm Rock LLC’s Royce, eventually finishing second. Brianne Goutal and Hampton Farms LLC’s Orbetello moved up in the order while Victor had a shoe replaced in the warm-up area. Their time of 38.73 seconds took the third place prize. After a slight delay, Tiffany Foster and Victor returned to lay down the winning time of 38.05. A 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) owned in partnership by Torrey Pines Stable & Artisan Farms LLC, Victor had a six-month break from competing over the winter and returned fresh and ready to go this spring. He jumped a few competitions in Europe before coming to Spruce Meadows and has been in excellent form. “He had a six month break after last summer to refresh and recharge,” Foster detailed. “He had been going hard since he was like seven years old, so he got a good break. We were kind of aiming him for this series and he has come out really fresh. Actually, he has been clear in every round he has jumped so far; he has been awesome.” Speaking of the day’s competition, Foster noted, “That course was hard. It was a very difficult time allowed. It suited Victor because he is a really quick horse anyway, so you could kind of ride your normal track and still be under the time, but normal horses you were not. If you look at the field in the jump-off, that was mostly grand prix horses in a 1.50m jump-off. That gives you a good indication of how difficult that first round was, but Anthony kind of had to make it tough because it was a big, strong field. One second more on the time allowed would have made it a little easier, but it was fine for me!” Commenting on her jump-off round, Foster continued, “I lost a shoe and Brianne nicely moved up, so I was able to go last. Victor is a really quick horse, so I did not want to risk too much to the second jump, the vertical, or the double verticals. I probably actually went too slow there and then I had to go fast everywhere else, but it worked out.” Victor will jump again in Friday’s $126,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.55m to finish out his competition for the week. He will then return to compete in the last two weeks of the Summer Series. “He will show a lot here. This is kind of his renaissance,” Foster laughed. “It is home turf and he loves it here. We know each other really well. I have had him for a long time and to jump these classes with him is actually a lot of fun.”
