Ian Millar and Dixson win $50,000 Grand Prix (VIDEO)
Canada's Ian Millar was the proud winner of Saturday night's $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* aboard Ariel and Susan Grange's Dixson during week two of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). In a five-horse jump-off, Millar and Dixson topped the class by two one-hundredths of a second over Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms LP's Zernike K.
Course designer Luc Musette (BEL) set a challenging track for the 45 starters in Saturday night's class under the lights of the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Only five entries were able to advance to the jump-off, but all went on to clear the short course. The top four were separated by just fractions of a second.
Paige Johnson (USA) and Salamander Farm's Dakota set the pace in the jump-off at 40.99 seconds to finish fourth. Cian O'Connor (IRL) and Adena Spring's Quidam's Cherie upped the time in 40.27 seconds to place third. Millar and Dixson followed with the winning round in 40.10 seconds. Ljubov Kochetova (RUS) and Veyron jumped into fifth place in 42.40 seconds, and Goutal wrapped up the night with a time of 40.12 seconds aboard Zernike K.
A ten-time Olympic veteran for Canada and one of the sport's most illustrious stars, Ian Millar had a fantastic 2014 season with Dixson, including a big win in the $1.5 Million CP International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows and a trip to France for the Canadian show jumping team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Millar explained that the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Olisco) never missed a beat coming back into competition after a short rest at the end of the season.
“He had been off since the third week of September, and I didn't start him until December again because he lives with Mrs. Grange,” Millar noted. “He had a nice break and when I got going with him, his conditioning came right back because they use a treadmill with him. Even though he's let down, his fitness is taken care of.”
“It is so interesting with these horses how they remember; they don't forget a thing,” Millar stated. “A good, trained horse really holds it. You get on and it was like I had ridden him the day before, so you pick up where you left off and you go again. That is quite exciting.”
Dixson is related to Millar's great mount Big Ben and has always been special to the rider for that reason alone, but has proven his own talent in recent years.
“The greatest horse I ever had was Big Ben, and this horse is related to Big Ben on the mother line,” Millar detailed. “I felt very strongly about him when I saw him. I could see the weaknesses, but I was absolutely drawn to him.”
Final Results: $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2*
1. DIXSON: 2003 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Vigo d'Arsouilles x Olisco
IAN MILLAR (CAN), Ariel and Susan Grange: 0/0/40.10
2. ZERNIKE K: 2004 KWPN gelding by Sam R 60 x H Topas
BRIANNE GOUTAL (USA), Remarkable Farms LP: 0/0/40.12
3. QUIDAM'S CHERIE: 2005 Oldenburg mare by Quidam's Rubin x Lifestyle
CIAN O'CONNOR (IRL), Adena Springs: 0/0/40.27
4. DAKOTA: 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare by Calvados Ex Sable Rose x Cash
PAIGE JOHNSON (USA), Salamander Farm: 0/0/40.99
5. VEYRON: 2006 Oldenburg stallion by Conterno Grande x Heartbreaker
LJUBOV KOCHETOVA (RUS), Ljubov Kochetova: 0/42.40
6. ATLANTA 541: 2005 KWPN mare by For Pleasure x Libero H
MEREDITH MICHAELS-BEERBAUM (GER), Michaels & Beerbaum gmbH: 1/77.37
7. WAOMI: 2003 KWPN mare by Lupicor x Boreas
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Amalaya Investments: 4/71.45
8. ROSANA DU PARK: 2005 Selle Francais mare by Kannan
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 4/72.23
9. CONTIKI: 2006 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Contendro x Calido I
NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO (USA), Coker Farm Inc: 4/72.71
10. BIG SMILE: 2006 Westphalian mare by Cartano x Hors de La Loi II
CARLY ANTHONY (USA), Artisan Farms LLC: 4/73.16
11. PALOUBET: 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Voltaire
WILTON PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 4/73.34
12. NAVALO DE POHETON: 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Cumano x Double Espoir
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), Wolfstone Stables: 4/74.36