Colombian’s Win Caps Day With Wins by Four Countries
Lexington, KY – Ilan Bluman of Colombia capped a spectacular day of international competition, topping a five-country jump-off on his way to the win in the $40,000 Amalaya Investments CSI 3* Grand Prix at the Bourbon International CSI 3*, part of the Split Rock Jumping Tour.
Ilan Bluman. Photo provided by SEL Photography.
A field of 49 started the class and five, representing five different countries, were able to turn in clear efforts to make it to the jump-off. Bluman was the first to go in the jump-off with Ladriano Z, owned by Blue Star Investments. His clear round in 35.83 seconds proved to be the only faultless ride.
U.S. Olympic veteran Peter Leone, Greenwich, CT, and Wayfarer completed the course with four faults in a time of 36.45 to claim second place. Daniel Bedoya of Bolivia aboard Quattro placed third with four faults in a time of 37.01. Freddie Vazques of Puerto Rico and Bachelor 4 placed fourth with four faults in 38.00 and fifth place went to Daniel Coyle of Ireland, with Ridley, who finished in the fastest time of 35.39 but with two rails down for eight faults.
Ilan Bluman. Photo provided by SEL Photography.
“It is my first time winning an FEI ranking class,” said Bluman, 27. “It is truly a special moment for me. It was a really hard course. The time allowed was tight. I was talking with my cousin (two-time Olympic veteran Daniel Bluman) before the jump-off and I just wanted to go clear, I didn’t want to try to go fast. My horse is not the fastest horse so I just wanted to go clear and make a nice course. The other ones tried to beat me and they couldn’t. They had rails down. My horse jumped really well and I am so happy.”
Earlier in the day, the Irish national anthem was heard across the showgrounds for the second day in a row as David O’Brien who hails from Galway, Ireland, and Spy Coast Farms’ O’Splendido won the $5,000 L.V. Harkness & Co. 1.40 Meter Jumper class with a clear round in a time of 60.741seconds.
David O’Brien and O’Splendido. Photo provided by SEL Photography.
“This horse has had two wins now in FEI shows,” said O’Brien. “The course worked out for me. The first line I left one out and at the end of the course I left another one out from 7 to 8. He is a very quick horse and can leave strides out and be a little tighter. We have a lot of young horses coming up at Spy Coast and I am lucky to be at a farm that is trying to bring the breeding to the US.”
Olivia Chowdry. Photo provided by SEL Photography.
Olivia Chowdry, 20 from Denver, CO, and her mount Doune, were victorious in the $2,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner 1.20 Meter Jumper class. Of the twelve horse and rider combinations who made it into the jump off, they were the fastest of the eleven who managed to produce double clear rounds. Chowdry’s time of 32.857 gave them the win.
Susan Horn. Photo provided by SEL Photography.
Susan Horn, Bolton Ontario, and Egano Van Het Slogenhof owned by Kingsfield Farm, took top honors in the $2,000 Brook Ledge Transportation High Junior/Amateur-Owner 1.40 Meter Jumper class. Horn, who is trained by Canadian legend Mac Cone, was the first Canadian to mount the winner’s podium at the Bourbon International CSI 3*.
“I’ve only had him for six months but it’s all coming together and heading in the right direction,” said Horn. “It is nice to see it all come together. We have been working really hard but very slowly to keep building the partnership and it worked out very nicely today. It was a really good course. It narrowed down the field considerably. There were a few inside turns you could take in the jump-off that could give you the advantage, and a lot of bold lines. I enjoyed it and I like the way it turned out.”
The Split Rock Jumping Tour’s Bourbon International CSI 3* runs October 5-9 and features world-class show jumping competition every day, and culminating with the $130,000 CSI 3* Grand Prix Presented by Split Rock Farm on Sunday, October 9 at 2:00 pm.
The Bourbon International CSI 3* also features Kids Areas a live music stage, two Vendor Villages for exceptional shopping and on Saturday and Sunday, a West 6th Beer Tasting from 12:00 until 4:00 pm. Admission and parking is free.
The event is available to stream live by going to http://splitrockjumpingtour.com/srjt-live or http://horsenetwork.com/2016/10/live-video-bourbon-international-split-rock/.
For more information please contact Split Rock Jumping Tour by calling 859-252-3247 or e-mail us at [email protected] or visit our website at http://splitrockjumpingtour.com.
