Eric Lamaze Leads Winning Round

Eric Lamaze and Rosana du Park (Photo: Spruce Meadows Media Services)

Calgary, AB, Canada –The Transcanada Winning Round 1.50m had 28 entries. In this format, the top 10 regardless of first round faults return for a jump-off. Faults do not carry through to the jump-off, but determine the order of go.

Lamaze and Rosana du Park, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare by Kannan owned by Artisan Farms LLC & Torrey Pines Stable, were fast and clear in the first round, setting them up for the perfect position in the second round order.

“This mare doesn’t often have four faults, (but) if she did, that would be all she had,” Lamaze pointed out. “I just had to look at the time on the board if I had an unlucky rail (in the first round). Fortunately she jumped clear and I had the pole position, last to go in. I had my plan. There were maybe a couple of options, but I thought I would just take the route the others took more or less, but put on some more speed. I would have gone faster if I had to go first.”

When Lamaze entered the ring, he was following fellow Artisan Farms rider Tiffany Foster (CAN), who had set the leading time with a clear round in 55.88 seconds on Brighton. Lamaze and Rosana du Park sped around the course, turning in a time just under in 55.69 seconds for victory.

Third place went to Sameh El Dahan (EGY) on WKD Diva. They recorded a clear round in 56.82 seconds. Conor Swail (IRL) and Hetman of Color J, with a time of 60.53 seconds, finished fourth. Patricio Pasquel (MEX) and Babel were fifth with four faults in 57.28 seconds.

Lamaze is the winningest rider in Spruce Meadows’ 41-year history, earning more than $4.55 million. But he said that winning never gets old, especially at Spruce Meadows. “They do it in such a fun way with the presentations. You can go around the world and not see presentations like that at major shows,” he said. “Here it’s fun to ride in (to the ring in) the golf cart too; you don’t do that at any other show. I love the presentations here, and that’s what keeps you wanting to win.”

Eric Lamaze raises the trophy with Ms. Terri Steeves, Vice-President, Gas Operations, Transcanada. (Photo: Spruce Meadows Media Services)

Rosana du Park was one of a handful of horses that were purchased by his owners, Artisan Farms, a few years ago and started competing at Spruce Meadows as young horses in the 1.30m and 1.40m Jumpers. She and Check Picobello Z are now winning consistently at the 1.50m level around the world.

“We’ve had some good luck, but you need great owners behind you in order to do this,” he acknowledged. “There are plenty of horses that we purchased, that you will never see because they weren’t good enough. That’s the game. You don’t bat 100 buying horses and competing. You’ll make some mistakes, and some horses will disappoint you. With Artisan Farms behind me, and Tiffany, they’ve made it possible and not be afraid to buy young horses, trying to find a special one, and get great horses to compete on. We’re very fortunate to have that.”

With an Artisan Farms 1-2 finish, Lamaze was happy. “We’re all on the same team, and you have to cheer for each other. If [Tiffany] went after me, she probably could have caught what I just did on Rosana. She had one down and went earlier, but she came back to finish second, which is a very good result,” he said.

For full results and schedule, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Final Results: Transcanada Winning Round 1.50m
1 ROSANA DU PARK: 2005 Selle Francais mare by Kannan ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms & Torrey Pines Stable: 0/0/55.69
2 BRIGHTON: 2006 KWPN gelding by Contender II x Quick Star TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC & Torrey Pines Stable: 4/0/55.88
3 WKD DIVA: 2007 Dutch Warmblood mare by Balourado x T Hors La Loi II SAMEH EL DAHAN (EGY), Joanne Sloan Allen: 4/0/56.82
4 HETMAN OF COLOR J: 2007 Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Calvaro x Querlybet Hero CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Ilan Ferder: 1/0/60.53
5 BABEL: 2007 CCDM Warmblood gelding by Billy du Lys x High Flyer PATRICIO PASQUEL (MEX), Patricio Pasquel: 4/4/57.28
6 CATOKIA: 2007 Westphalian mare by Catoki x Coriall PHILIPP WEISHAUPT (GER), Philipp Weishaupt: 4/4/57.76
7 CHACNA: 2007 Warmblood mare by Chacco Blue x Narew ENRIQUE GONZALEZ (MEX), Enrique Gonzalez: 4/4/58.52
8 HERMELIEN VD HOOGHOEVE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Tangelo VD Zuthoeve x Thunder VD Zuthoeve ALI RAMSAY (CAN), Ali Ramsay: 0/4/58.95
9 RUBENS LS LA SILLA: 2006 SLS stallion by Rebozo LS La Silla x Cash CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Vanessa Mannix: 1/4/61.69
10 COUP DE CHANCE: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cardento x Darco ELIZABETH GINGRAS (CAN), B Gingras Equestrian Ltd: 4/8/60.18
11 AVENZIO: 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Animo x Erdball TAIZO SUGITANI (JPN), Yvonne Barrow: 4/79.79
12 BELLA STRADE: 2006 Dutch Warmblood mare by Lord Z x Damiro KARA CHAD (CAN), Stone Ridge: 4/80.54