Keira Stoute lands her biggest victory in the glorious setting of Cannes
Tuesday 13 June 2023
f41e87n7udh7.jpg "Keira Stoute lands her biggest victory in the glorious setting of Cannes")
Keira Stoute scored victory in the 2* Grand Prix of Cannes on the Longines Global Champions Tour with new ride Guru to mark the biggest win of her career so far.
“I’m delighted to have won my first grand prix, I couldn’t have asked Guru to give me more,” said Keira.
Keira, 18, only started jumping at British Showjumping affiliated level two years ago and has leapt up the ladder in a short time to reach this level. This was only her second world ranking class and they had built up confidence by taking fifth place in the previous day’s 1.40m.
Only five of the 16 starters accessed the Grand Prix jump-off with Keira and Guru forging ahead to claim a handsome win by 4.28 sec.
“He’s an exceptional horse with the biggest heart who just wants to deliver his best for you every time,” added Keira.
The Cassini Gold x Ovidius 12-year-old Guru was contending 5* level shows with Ireland’s Andrew Bourns last year and joined Keira in February. The new partnership has only competed in a handful of shows but Keira’s worked hard on establishing a bond with the help of Keysoe-based Tom Plaster and training with Cian O’Connor and Gerry Mullins.
Guy Williams jumped to the top in the 3* 1.45m with Rouge De Ravel in Lons Le Saunier, France.
Forty riders came forward in this speed class but no-one is faster than Guy when he’s on form. The Ultimo Van Ter Moude 18-year-old stallion matched his enthusiasm and they powered to victory with a handsome 5.09 sec to spare.
"Rouge was used a lot at stud last year and has recently been back there between shows. I've had a couple of weeks off due to an injury which gave him more time at stud. It was very warm in France but they were nice courses and he jumped really well, said Guy, who also won day one's 1.35m two-phase the speedy Rouge.
Matthew Sampson – who recorded a phenomenal 17 wins and claimed over $430,000 in prize money in his inaugural season in 2022 at the iconic Spruce Meadows venue in Canada – was ready to carry on right where he left off, kicking off with a win on day one.
He registered his first win at the Spruce Meadows Continental, taking the Herd Jumper 1.40m on Isabel Coxe’s MGH Candy Girl.
Forty-nine competitors came forward over a speed track designed by Irish course-designer Tom Holden with Matt and the Sligo Candy Boy/Cruising 10-year-old edging ahead to win by 0.17 sec.
"She's amazing, so competitive and tries so hard every time she goes in the ring. She's a pleasure to ride and loves her job," said Matt, on Candy Girl.
The pair went on to take third in the Canadian Utilities Grand Prix. Six of the 33 riders facing Brazilian course-designer Marina Azevado’s 1.45m track returned for the jump-off with Matt finishing 0.89 sec behind the winner, Ireland’s Conor Swail on Gamble.
Matt also claimed victory in the Fantastic 4 1.40m with a new ride. Twelve of the 35 starters found the key to the 1.40m track to make their way into the jump-off but they were no match for Matt. He guided Nicolas Pizarro’s German-bred nine-year-old Lord of London into the top spot by 0.31 sec. Amanda Derbyshire made it a British one-two with second aboard the Cevin Z 11-year-old Wonder If.
"Lord only arrived from Mexico 10 days ago and the plan is to build him up over the summer to bigger classes and hopefully step up to 1.45/1.50m in the future," added Matt.
Millie Allen claimed a handsome victory double at Peelbergen in The Netherlands, in a marathon run of classes.
“The jumping was a five-hour marathon as, because of the heat, the organisers switched classes from two rings to three to get all the jumping done in the morning and I had horses in all three rings,” explained Millie. “I didn’t have time to watch anyone else in the jump-off, I got off one horse and onto another!”
Odarco Van D’Abelendreef stepped up to the plate for Millie in the 2* 1.45m – split into two sections due to the heavy entries. The 45 starters were reduced to 10 for the jump-off, Millie and the Darco/Lord Z nine-year-old easing ahead by 0.44 sec to take the win.
He’s just stepping up to this level, I’m really pleased with him,” said Millie, who has based in Belgium with Karel Cox for the past two years.
Daniel Neilson claimed third on the nine-year-old Emerald/Clinton mare Eireann LVS Z – previously ridden by Donald Whitaker. Sally Goding jumped Spring Willow into third in the second 1.45m section, the nine-year-old Luidam x Corland mare finishing 0.73 sec behind the winner in the 23-horse jump-off.
Millie also topped the 2* 1.40m two-phase with new ride of four weeks Homey, the 11-year-old Cardento x Heartbreaker mare outpacing their 29 rivals to win with 1.64 sec in hand.
James Smith hit form in Sancourt, France, with a victory double and a very close second place.
James claimed an early, world ranking 2* 1.45m win with Juno Rose 23. The 45 starters were reduced to eight for the jump-off with James and the 9-year-old Cardento x Burggraaf mare outpacing their rivals by more than two seconds to spare. The pair came agonisingly close on the final day as just 0.01 sec in a 14-horse decider denied them a second win and they had to settle for the runner-up position.
James’s other win came in the 2* 1.40m with John and Laura Renwick’s home-bred Cottee (Asterix E Z x Couleur Rubin) as 15 of the original 56 competitors contended the jump-off, the 9-year-old edging ahead by 0.22 seconds.
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