All attention was focused on the Rolex Grand Slam at the CSIO Spruce Meadows today. The best 12 combinations returned for the second round in this 1.70m Grand Prix. With a total price money . of 3.000.000 CAD, it was eventually USA's Beezie Madden who jumped to victory aboard Darry Lou. Earlier this week the pair already won the 1.60m main class on Friday.
QUICK RESULTS
1. Beezie Madden - Darry Lou
2. Rowan Willis - Blue Movie
2. Max Kuhner - Chardonnay 79
A total of 8 combinations produced a clear first round in this Grand Prix. The short line from the grand water into the double combination of two verticals made some combinations make a fault. Also the Rolex triple combination was tricky to jump.
At the beginning of the second round it was Belgium's Francois Mathy Jr with Uno de la Roque (Numero Uno) who set the first leading score. The combination took one time penalty from the first round and added a total of five after one jumping fault on fence number one in the second round. Eventually placing fourth.
It was waiting until Austria's Max Kuhner who took over the leading position with five points in the saddle of Chardonnay 79 (Clarimo ASK). The pair set the timer at 66.78 seconds but were immediately beat by Australia's Rowan Willis with Blue Movie (Chacco-Blue).
However, USA's Beezie Madden was the only one to keep the rails untouched in this heavy second round. Madden and her trusted Darry Lou (Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve) took over the lead with only Eric Lamaze to follow at the start. Canada's home hero didn't manage to keep it clear and guided his trusted Fine Lady 5 eventually to the fifth place.
Ph. Spruce Meadows