Kim Farlinger and Stanley Stone grab second Grand Prix win

Orangeville’s Kim Farlinger and Stanley Stone continued their impressive season at Caledon Equestrian Park with their second Grand Prix win in 2017. The victory came in the $25,000 Summer Festival Grand Prix – Presented by McKee-Pownall Equine Services on Sunday (Aug. 6).

The pair bested an impressive field of 20 entries on a challenging course that saw just five advance to the jump-off. The time allowed in the first round gave several riders a hard time with a few going clear only to miss out on the jump-off by a precious few seconds.

“I thought that the course designer did a really good job today. He made the jumps themselves difficult enough, but he did keep the time allowed a factor – which provides another element because he makes you keep turning on the jumps and keep your speed. (That) doesn’t give you any time to collect your speed or collect your horse,” said Farlinger.

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“Stanley is a pretty naturally fast mover and so he doesn’t normally struggle with the time allowed, but it was definitely something to consider. I think there would have been another four or five horses in the jump-off is that wasn’t the case,” she added.

Canadian course designer Peter Grant didn’t make things any easier for the handful of competitors in the second round, either.

Farlinger and Stanley Stone led things off with a starting time of 39.38 in the jump-off, saying afterward she had Graham and Knock Out 3E in mind when taking to the course for her second effort.

“Stanley’s gone a lot of good clear rounds for me this summer and he’s won a few already. I had the first jump down on Friday in the Open Welcome so I was a bit hungry today to go for a win. I knew that Hugh Graham was in last position, which is the enviable place and Hugh is always very dangerous in that position,” said Farlinger.

Graham and Knock Out 3E would finish fifth. Hyde Moffat and BreezeBy were second on the day, with Dior and Nora Gray claiming third.

“I tried to use what Stanley is best at, which is his gallop and his speed. I just went really as fast as I could, hoping the rest would try to chase me and trip over one – and that paid off today,” she added.

Farlinger and Stanley Stone, a 12-year-old Warmblood Gelding owned by Sher-Al Farm, also claimed the red ribbon in the $25,000 Grand Prix – Presented by Vestrum Canada at the Summer Classic on July 2.

The pair has added a pair of Open Welcome wins to round out an impressive resume at the park to date this season. First claiming the $10,000 Open Welcome – Presented by Horseflight at the Summer Classic on June 30, followed by the $10,000 Open Welcome – Presented by MAAAX Equine Feed on July 28.

Going back to the last week and Summer Festival however, it was Calgary’s Jim Ifko and Eventyre Farms Inc.’s Un Diamant Des Forets who were victorious in the $10,000 Open Welcome – Presented by Greenhawk Equestrian Sport on Friday, Aug. 4.

The pair beat out a starting field of 18, with Graham and Knock Out 3E this time taking home the blue ribbon. Hyde Moffat and BreezeBy rounded out the top three entries on the day with their second top-three finish on the week.

The Summer Festival, which ran from August 2-6 at Caledon Equestrian Park, also featured the 2017 edition of the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association (OHJA) Super Weekend.

“Super Weekend is an initiative spearheaded by the OHJA, geared toward developing and increasing the skill level of both horse and rider while encouraging forward progression through the offered divisions at gold-level competitions in Ontario,” said a horse show release.

The two-day event featured three large stake classes with Go Between 3E and Alyssa Smith-Avery starting things off on Saturday (Aug. 5) with a win in the $3,500 1.10m Junior Amateur Stake. Hayley Conacher and Caipirinha followed that up with a victory in the $4,500 1.20m Junior Amateur Stake.

Sunday saw Carino and Kevin Maxie take home the top prize in the combined $7,500 1.30m/1.40m Junior Amateur Stake presented by the OHJA.

Over in the hunter ring, the third installment in the four-class LongRun Thoroughbred Hunter Challenge Series at Caledon Equestrian Park also took place Sunday. Red October and Deborah Weir won the red ribbon, followed by Ryan Roy and Wessex in second. Redneck Romeo and Elizabeth Rous-Hill were third.

On Friday, Anna Bremermann was victorious in the Jump Canada Medal and recieved a $500 gift voucher courtesy of CWD for her winning effort. Annisse Perrault was second, while Dannie Murphy took home third place.

FEI competition returns to the Park this week for the Caledon Premier 2 CSI2* from August 9-13. The FEI action kicks off in the Grand Prix Ring Thursday (Aug. 10) with the $35,000 FEI Open Welcome – Presented by RAM Equestrian.

That will be followed up $50,000 FEI Jumper Classic on Saturday on 3 p.m. The impressive lineup will conclude Sunday with the $15,000 Modified Grand Prix – Presented by Pommies Cider Co.

Pommies reps will be on hand Sunday starting at 3 p.m. in conjunction with the Modified Grand Prix serving up Pommies Slushies at the main pavilion. The Pommies team will be serving up complimentary slushies and nibbles throughout the class.

Also on the schedule for this week is the 2017 McKee Pownall Equine Services FEI Groom Appreciation Showcase.

“To show our appreciation to the grooms that make it happen behind the scenes, McKee-Pownall Equine Services is proud to introduce the 2017 Groom Appreciation Showcase. There will be a chance to win at each of the five FEI jogs over the 2017 show season at the Caledon Equestrian Park,” said McKee-Pownall in a show release.

Each week’s winner is presented with $200 and a McKee-Pownall prize pack.

Visit caledonequestrianpark.com for more information a complete show schedule.

Summer Festival, August 2-6
Horse/Owner/Rider

$25,000 Summer Festival Grand Prix – Presented by McKee-Pownall Equine Services
1) Stanley Stone/Sher-Al Farm/Kim Farlinger
2) BreezeBy /Rebecca Irvine / Hyde Moffatt
3) Dior/Nora Gray/Nora Gray
4) Valkyrie De Talma/Eventyre Farms Ltd/Rachel Cornacchia
5) Knock Out 3E/Kingridge Stables/Hugh Graham

$7,500 OHJA Junior/Amateur 1.30/1.40m Stake
1) Carino/Kevin Maxie/Kevin Maxie
2) Camilla/Sadie Leon/Sadie Leon $1,500.00
3) Al Cantaro/Rachel Cornacchia/Rachel Cornacchia
4) Beam P/Susan Perreault-Parker/Natasha Smith-Avery
5) Usty des Dubois/Martha Younger/Alexandra Millar

$1,500 LongRun TB Hunter Challenge – Presented by Adena Springs
1) Red October/Deborah Weir/Deborah Weir
2) Wessex/Helen Curtin/ Ryan Roy
3) Redneck Romeo/Cindy Phillips-Wood/Elizabeth Rous-Hill
4) Michael/Victoria Hay/Victoria Hay
5) CLASSIC TOUCH/Stacy Toulouse/Reese Falkenberg

$10,000 Open Welcome – Presented by Greenhawk Equestrian Sport
1) Un Diamant Des Forets/Eventyre Farms Ltd/Jim Ifko
2) Knock Out 3E/Kingridge Stables/Hugh Graham
3) BreezeBy/Rebecca Irvine/Hyde Moffatt
4) Caprice M/AEI Corp/Veronica Bot
5) Dior/Nora Gray/Nora Gray