Karen Cudmore claims $100,000 World Cup at Caledon Summer Festival

Schomberg area's Eric Lamaze was guiding Ronaldo around the course last Sunday in the $100,000 World Cup Grand Prix held in Palgrave. This was one of two mounts he had in the event, but neither entry advanced to the jump-off.

Karen Cudmore, originally of Victoria, BC, claimed victory in the $100,000 World Cup Grand Prix held last Sunday at the CSI-W Caledon Summer Festival in Palgrave.

A stellar starting field of 30 horses and riders, including Olympic and World Championship

veterans, attempted the first round track set by Canadian course designer Michel Vaillancourt, himself an Olympic Silver Medallist. Only four were able to master the test to advance to the jump-off.

It wasn't a great day for local riders. Schomberg area's Eric Lamaze had two cracks, riding Ronaldo and Ramiville, but he failed to get into the jump-off, as did Tiffany Foster, also of Schomberg.

First to challenge in the jump-off, 22-year-old Kelley Small of Ottawa set the early pace with a clear round in a time of 41.06 seconds riding Calibur, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Cimarron Farm. Next into the ring was Margie Gayford of Stouffville and Wingberry Farm's Stuntman, a 10-yearold Hannoverian gelding. The pair left all the rails in their place over the shortened jump-off track, but their time of 43.47 seconds would eventually leave them third.

Next up were Cudmore and Southern Pride. With a style that is all their own, they were clear in a time of 39.54 seconds to overtake the lead from Small. Just one formidable opponent remained the defending champion, Ian Millar of Perth. Riding Redefin, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Susan Grange, the eighttime Olympian went all out for victory but ran into trouble at the third fence from home to incur seven faults.

Cudmore, who now lives in Omaha, Nebraska, were she and her husband, Blair, operate a Holsteiner breeding operation, was thrilled with the victory which earned her $28,000 in prize money.

"Southern Pride is only an eight-year-old, but he is just outstanding," praised Cudmore of the Americanbred Holsteiner stallion that was purchased as a yearling from Joan Irvine-Smith in California. "He is so careful, and so scopey. We went third in the jump-off and Ian was the only one who could

catch us. He was on the pace, but he pushed the envelope a little too much. It was super to win, the horse has been fabulous!"

The win marked the second in a row for Cudmore as she had also claimed victory in Saturday's $10,000 Champion Shavings Modified Grand Prix with the fan favourite, Conejo.

"On Saturday, I was very happy to win the Modified Grand Prix with Conejo," said Cudmore of her 13year-old Holsteiner stallion. "We are just bringing him back, and winning with him makes me almost as happy as winning today with my young horse."

With Conejo, Cudmore represented Canada at the 2002 World Equestrian

Games and the 2003 Pan American Games, and has enjoyed numerous Grand Prix victories. It would appear that Southern Pride is following in his stable mate's footsteps as his win in the $100,000 World Cup Grand Prix in Palgrave marked his third grand prix victory of the year.

Hyde Moffat of Brantford placed fifth after turning in the day's fastest four-fault round riding Ting Tin, a 10year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Hawkestone Farms.

The $100,000 World Cup Grand Prix is a qualifying event for the 2006 World Cup Final in Las Vegas. The top two riders in the Canadian League World Cup standings will be invited to compete.