Rancho Murieta, Calif. – Oct. 6, 2017 – USA’s Alison Robitaille and Serise du Bidou, last to enter the ring and the only double clear, were delighted with their Grand Prix win. Robitaille has only been riding this mare, owned by her parents Bertram and Diana Firestone, for eight months.
Robitaille explained, “I really haven’t had many jump-offs with her and we’ve started to click these last few months. Serise du Bidou has become a great horse for me. I feel really fortunate. It is always lucky to go last in a jump-off, especially with no one else being clear. I trusted my horse was going to go clean so I didn’t take the risky inside cuts, and it paid off.”
The time allowed in the jump-off was set at 42 seconds, providing Robitaille the opportunity to have up to 3 time faults and still win the class. They set a strong pace and were well within the required time.
“I didn’t want to get a bunch of time faults and she is happier going at a little bit of a roll anyway.” said Robitaille.
with Dale Harvey and Alexandra Swonke of West Palms Events. Photograph by Alden Corrigan
Forty-seven entries competed, all with the goal of qualifying for Saturday’s $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Sacramento, presented by Lasher’s Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. Canada’s Keean White and Corette finished in second place with 4 penalties and 33.86 seconds on the clock, closely followed by USA’s Mandy Porter and Milano again with 4 penalties and 34.38 seconds in the jump-off.
Robitaille is keen to take part in Saturday’s class. Robitaille explained, “I am very much looking forward to the weekend, it is my first time here at this horse show and today has been a great way to start things off. It is really lovely here at the Murieta Equestrian Center, it’s has very nice footing and it is great to try and qualify for a World Cup™ Final in an event like this where it is like being at the World Cup Finals.”
RESULTS
$36,500 Grand Prix Qualifier
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider / R1 Faults / Time / R2 Faults / Times
1. Serise Du Bidou / Bertram, Diana Firestone / Alison Robitaille / 0 / 73.74 / 0 / 37.91
2. Corette / Diamante Atelier & Angelstone Farms / Keean White / 0 / 70.09 / 4 / 33.86
3. Milano / Abigail Weese / Mandy Porter / 0 / 72.81 / 4 / 34.38
4. Dolinn / Evergate Stables LLC / Sayre Happy / 0 / 73.54 / 4 / 35.68
5. Catypso / Signe Ostby / Eric Navet / 0 / 71.94 / 4 / 40
6. Arthos R / CNS Logistics Inc / Richard Spooner / 0 / 73.34 / 23 / 52.1
7. Emilie De Diamant A S / Evergate Stables LLC / Jack Hardin Towell / 0 / 73.07
8. LEGIS Touch The Sun / Legisequine.com / Jenni Mcallister / 1 / 74.03
9. Colour Your Life / Petschenig Showjumping LLC / Peter Petschenig / 1 / 74.15
10. Dubai / Sarah E Ryan / Mavis Spencer / 1 / 74.49
11. Chatinus / Richard Spooner / Richard Spooner / 1 / 74.71
12. Luftikus / Evergate Stables LLC / Jennifer Gates / 1 / 74.98
Forty eight riders entered the arena to compete in the 1.35m class on Wednesday. Matias Fernandes and Algeria took the lap of honor followed by Karri Rufer and Mar Tai for 2nd and Kristin Hardin and ARAN taking 3rd.
RESULTS
$5,000 1.35m Class
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. Alegria / Matias Fernandez / Matias Fernandez
2. Mai Tai 2 / Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC Karrie Rufer
3. ARAN / Pamela Levin / Kristin Hardin
4. Chakira / Sandhaven Farm LLC / Rachel Fields
5. Carl Casim / Sydnie Young / Jill Humphrey
6. Clapton / Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC / Karrie Rufer
7. The Flying Ham / Signe Ostby / Eric Navet
8. Sweet Chocolate PJ / Jenni Mcallister / Jenni Mcallister
9. Coral Reef Cartouch Du Rona / Coral Reef Ranch / Mandy Porter
10. Aurora’s Diamond / Alder Lane Farm LLC / Richard Fellers
11. Chianti Classico / Daniel Rihan / John Perez
12. M&M’s / Matias Fernandez / Braden James
The Sacramento International Horse Show 2017 features the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Sacramento Presented by Lasher’s Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. Every evening of World Cup™ Week brings exciting, not to be missed, jumper classes.