Wellington, Florida, USA – March 16, 2019 – Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Roulette BH triumphed in the $134,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* last night during the tenth week of competition of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

A total of forty-five combinations challenged Michel Vaillancourt‘s (FRA) demanding but fair course.

Mac Cone (CAN) and Zaia di San Giovanni (Cornet Obolensky x Sophia di San Giovanni) were the trailblazers, having a total of 13 penalty-points attributed to them after knocking down 3 poles and missing out on the time allowed.

It took a while for the first combinaton to register a clear round. In the end, the triple combination (5a, 5b, 5c) alongside the VIP tent, consisting of an oxer, vertical and oxer, was a major cause of penalties for several competitors.

Moreover, the oxer with a liverpool (10), and mainly element 11b of the double, were also decisive. The final fence also played an important role in keeping others from advancing to the tiebreaker.

Amy Millar (CAN) & Truman

Amy Millar (CAN) and Truman (Mylord Carthago*HN x Kolibri) were the first ones to post a penalty-free performance in the first round. The Canadian was joined by three other females, all going for gold and glory in the feature class of the week.

Laura Chapot (USA), Vanessa Mannix (CAN) and the eventual winner Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) joined Amy in the all-female jump-off.

Millar got things started with a steady clear, but she left the door open after registering a time of 45.659 seconds, which eventually earned her silver honors.

Laura Chapot (USA) & Chandon Blue

Coming off a win last Thursday in the $36,000 Equinimity Challenge Cup Rd 10 CSI 3*, Laura Chapot (USA) was more aggresive this time aboard Chandon Blue (Chacco-Blue x Blue Bell). However, setting the fastest time (43.071 seconds) came at the expense of a rail, meaning that she would have to settle for third place.

Vanessa Mannix (CAN) and Valentino d’Elte put in a good effort, finishing fourth with a total of eight penalty-points and a final time of 45.476 seconds.

Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Roulette BH, Gochman Sporthorses’ 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Moschino x Michellino) took advantage of being the last ones to enter the ring, claiming the victory after a brilliant performance in 44.120 seconds.

Podium: Amy Millar (CAN), Amanda Derbyshire (GBR), and Laura Chapot (USA) joined by ringmaster Steve Rector; Kelly Nicholls, VP North America; Lorraine MacGuinness, Marketing Manager; Tom MacGuinness, CEO; and Barry Finnegan, R&D, of Horseware Ireland. 

Winners’ Circle

“When I got him, he had been ridden by a guy before, so he was very strong. For literally the last nine months we’ve been working rideability. So, in the jump-off I can actually let him go. We took it pretty slow last summer and we didn’t face him at all of the big stuff, and I think by doing that we’ve trusted each other. He’s jumped three grand prix classes here and he’s been clear every time, he had a time fault once. We haven’t tried to over-show here and we’ve got big plans for the future.”

“I did actually plan nine strides from the second to the third fence and ended up doing eight.And then I just kept going, I was really lucky at the double on the end, I didn’t have much control by then. Luck was on my side. I had the advantage of watching all three go. I knew if Laura was clear it would be hard to beat her. We just stuck to our plan it worked out.”

“It’s a first for me so it’s absolutely ecstatic. I don’t think there’s a better feeling than being able to canter around there!”

“We’re going to go to Europe for a couple of months this summer. My plan is the Nations Cups at Dublin and Hickstead and hopefully everything goes to plan. I’m looking at if I can do my other horse in one of them, so [Roulette BH] will just have to do one. The European [Championship] is the big plan this summer, maybe not with him, maybe with the other horse, we’re just taking it slowly and the big aim is 2020 for him for sure.”

“On Thursday it was my mistake at the last jump. I kind of got carried away and was a little bit too excited and it was way too long. Tonight there was seven strides in the last line and I was kind of looking at the clock at the same time I was coming down that line. I was saying, ‘Just be patient, there’s one more stride.’ I think I kind of learned my lesson from Thursday, sometimes it’s not always the best thing at the last jump.”

“It’s incredible, to win anything at WEF under the lights with such a big crowd is so special. I’ve been in America for nine years and I spent the first seven years watching all of these night classes. So to be able to jump them and be able to win [Grand Prix and Leading Lady Award] is a dream come true.”

Amy Millar

“It’s a pretty great story about this horse. I bought him from Eric Lamaze and Tiffany [Foster] helped me find him when were all in Europe getting ready for the Rio Olympics. They sold me the horse and, as a seven year-old and then last year I had a baby so my dad, Ian Millar, trained the horse for me all last year. He got him going around these 1.50m grands prix classes and I came back this season and have capitalized on everything that everyone has done to help me with the horse”

“I knew that, again, Laura [Chapot] is famous for being fast, and I knew everyone in the jump-off had the ability to go quickly. Essentially, I had to go as fast as I felt comfortable and leave the jumps up. I must say that I did think I was going to do one last stride in both of those lines when I made my plan, and then it just wasn’t working out that way. I just rode the plan and left the jumps up and I feel fortunate that I finished second. I must say the WEF Challenge Cup Round Ten on Thursday, he skipped around the first round beautifully. There were 86 riders in it, and it was three and a half hours later that I had to come back and his head was not in the game. I’m pleased with his performance today for sure.”

Laura Chapot

“That was a difficult combination in the first round, and I think coming off of a long gallop and a short turn back to it we maybe just got over-steadied to it and he slowed down. He’s been jumping fantastic the entire time, he’s jumped an awful lot of clear rounds. He maybe jumped a little bit too high and just barely caught that back rail. I couldn’t be more pleased with him. He’s been fantastic and has way exceeded my expectations, so to get another top finish tonight is spectacular.”

Results: $134,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*

1) Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) & Roulette BH (Moschino x Michellino) – 0 / 0 – 44.12

2) Amy Millar (CAN) & Truman (Mylord Carthago*HN x Kolibri) – 0 / 0 – 45.65

3) Laura Chapot (USA) & Chandon Blue (Chacco-Blue x Landcapitol) – 0 / 4 – 43.07

4) Vanessa Mannix (CAN) & Valentino d’Elte (Castronom Z*de Hus x Windsor – 0 / 8 – 45.47

5) David Blake (IRL) & Keoki (Catoki x Cassini I) – 1 – 81.50

6) Aidan Kileen (IRL) & Fair Play (Gaillard de la Pomme – Atina) – 1 – 82.50

7) Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) & Charmeur (Numero Uno x Gelha’s VDL Emilion) – 4 – 75.05

8) Tiffany Foster (CAN) & Victor (Elmshorn x Grandeur) – 4 – 75.90

9) Francisco José Mesquita Musa (BRA) & Catch Me Império Egípcio – 4 – 76.47

10) Margie Engle (USA) & Dicas (Diarado x Cassini I) – 4 – 77.53

11) Zoe Conter (BEL) & Davidoff de Lassus (Ugano Sitte x Origine du Mont d’Or) – 4 – 78.88

Text: Lo-Ami Souza

For full results, please click here.

Photos: © Sportfot