Canadian Olympic
Champion Eric Lamaze has welcomed a new show jumping prospect for the 2020
Tokyo Olympic Games to his barn. Idalville d’Esprit, an 11-year-old bay
Belgian Warmblood gelding (Carabas v/d Wateringhoeve x Nabab de Reve), was
purchased for Lamaze by Chris and Thea Stinnett of Heathman Farm and will be
owned in partnership with Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable.
Idalville
d’Esprit was campaigned for three seasons by Swiss amateur Aurélie Rytz, now
20, including at the 2018 European Young Rider Championship. Professional
rider Alain Jufer, also of Switzerland, took over the reins this spring and the
pair recently jumped double clear to place seventh in the €275,000 1.60m Grand
Prix at CSI5* Ascona, Switzerland. The horse was purchased for Lamaze
through well-known Swiss horse dealer Gian-Battista Lutta.
After meeting
through associates of global real estate giant, Engel & Völkers, Chris and
Thea Stinnett stepped forward to support Lamaze. The purchase of
Idalville d’Esprit further strengthens Lamaze’s string of international
contenders, with the horse being aimed towards next summer’s Tokyo Olympics.
“I can’t thank
Chris and his wife, Thea, enough for purchasing this horse for me as a prospect
for the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” said Lamaze, 51. “He has truly done this
out of the kindness of his heart and I will do my best to repay his belief in
me.”
Having seen
Idalville d’Esprit compete under Jufer, Lamaze said, “It is a horse that is
extra-careful, and will be fresh at the international grand prix level.
“Tokyo could
very well be my final competitive appearance and I have every intention of
going out on top,” continued Lamaze. “My focus would then turn to our
Torrey Pines horse sales operation, and I would also like to have time to focus
on teaching others so that they can achieve their dreams the same way I have.”
Lamaze claimed
the individual gold medal as well as team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
riding the legendary Hickstead. In 2016, he won an individual bronze
medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics riding Fine Lady 5 and led the Canadian team to
a fourth-place finish following a jump-off with Germany for the bronze medal.
SOURCE: Press release
