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Schuyler Riley Makes History with Chrysler Classic Win at 2005 North American at Spruce Meadows
In addition to being the only woman to ever win the Chrysler Classic, Riley becomes the first back to back winner of this challenging event in the fifteen years it has been held at the North American, CSI*****. The only other horse and rider combination to post consecutive victories in this demanding derby challenge was Canadian superstar Ian Millar and his legendary equine partner Big Ben. Millar’s wins came when the class was held as part of The National show in the late ‘80s. “It’s a dream come true,” exclaimed Riley. “It’s incredible. Ian Millar has always been an idol of mine, ever since I was young and aspiring to do grand prix classes. My very first World Cup Final I ever attended was in Tampa in 1988. I was in the amateur jumping at the Winter Equestrian Festival and Big Ben was there for the World Cup and I was just in complete awe, so to be even mentioned in the same category as that horse is like a dream come true,” she said. The test of the Chrysler Classic is exhausting and demanding. In the fifteen years since the Chrysler Classic has been held as part of the North American, there have only been a total of nine clear performances over the grueling derby course. Riley has registered two of those nine fault free rides with Opus Sept. “He has the scope and the bravery and at the same time, the ride-ability and carefulness,” noted Riley. “It’s a very delicate balance to get a horse that’s careful enough to clear the sunken road and brave enough to go through it too. He has that delicate combination that makes him unbelievable to ride in a derby. I can trust him,” said Riley. “And because I can trust him, I can be more accurate. When you’re riding a horse just to get him over one of those types of jumps, then you sacrifice accuracy. I don’t have to do that with Opus Sept.” Riley said that her love for this kind of competition came from her early days in the sport. “My excitement for this kind of jumping started with the International Jumping Derby in Newport. I grew up in that area and that event was one of the most exciting events in all of grand prix show jumping,” Riley asserted. “I was drawn to that kind of event. I love the international jumping and the Nations Cups, but the derbies are a different kind of pressure. It’s a more physically demanding challenge and that changes things up a bit and keeps everything much more interesting,” she said. Winning the event in 2004 gave Riley an added boost of confidence going into this year’s edition. “I think I go into every competition ‘wanting it,’” she said. “I think you tend to feel you have a greater chance of success once you’ve accomplished something, once you’ve won something. You go in with a great confidence and you just have to hope things go your way and you get a little lucky. If you know you can do it,” Riley recognized, “then you go in knowing it’s possible to do a repeat.” Riley was forced into the tiebreaker when Athens Olympic Gold Medalist and three time World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa, produced the second clear round of the day. She said that luck was on her side in the deciding round. “When I pulled a rail in the jump-off, I was pretty sure I’d be second. Rodrigo’s a brilliant rider and his horse had won the derby here in the spring with a clear round in the jump-off,” noted Riley. “I wouldn’t have been disappointed with that. In fact, I’d have been thrilled, because I knew we’d given it our best shot. I’m obviously more thrilled with the way things worked out. But, I think that’s where the luck comes in,” she said. “Things do have to go your way. It has to be your day.” Over 255,000 spectators attended this year’s North American at the Calgary, Alberta, Canada show grounds. “It was almost a full house on Sunday,” said Riley. “We had perfect weather this week. I think Spruce Meadows had the worst weather in their history for the first two weeks, so when we got the great weather this week, the crowds really came out. I could hear them screaming for me as I headed down the home stretch in the first round. It was just electric,” smiled Riley. “Very exciting. Really cool.” “This was a particularly satisfying win for me. My plan going in, with Opus having jumped a lot already this year, was to only do the two derbies: the Shell Cup and then the Chrysler Classic. I jumped him in one class this week and then Sunday. I love it when a plan works out like that,” she laughed. Riley has placed in the Chrysler Classic in five of the past six years. In addition to the two wins, she was eighth in 2003 with Ilian and third and fifth with Stormchaser in 2002 and 2001. Riley will spend the next month in Europe beginning with the new CSI**** at Gelderland in Holland and then on to three weeks in Valkenswaard, also in the Netherlands. Results - $175,000 Chrysler Chrysler Classic - 1.60M International Ring Table A, 655.2.1 1 Jump Off, Art 238.2.2- Spruce Meadows North American CSI*****
PHOTO CREDIT: Schuyler Riley down the bank at the Chrysler Classic. Photo by Peter Llewellyn. Split Seconds Photography. |
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Wellington,
Fl – July 12 – For the second year in a row, Schuyler Riley
and Opus Sept won the $175,000 Chrysler Classic at the North American
at Spruce Meadows in Canada. Riley defended her title successfully,
topping Athens Olympic Gold Medalist Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil for the
win. With this unprecedented victory, Riley galloped her way into the
show jumping record books as well. 
