Eric Lamaze Keeps Cleaning up at Spruce with 1.50m Repsol Cup Win

Eric Lamaze & Rosana du Park. Ph. Spruce Meadows Media Services

The Repsol Cup 1.50m was the highlight competition on Saturday at the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ CSI 5* Tournament, the second week of four in the Spruce Meadows Summer Series. Eric Lamaze (CAN) was victorious riding Rosana du Park. Philipp Weishaupt (GER) and LB Convall were second, while Kara Chad (CAN) and Bella Strade took third place. Earlier in the day, Jack Hardin Towell (USA) and New York won the McDaniel & Associates Cup 1.45m.

Join Spruce Meadows for a special Sunday Father’s Day at the ‘Continental’ Tournament! Highlighting the day is the CP Grand Prix, at 1 p.m. MST, and there will be the CP Mini Train, pony rides, mini golf, face painting, and ice cream. Don’t miss a special day for the family at Spruce Meadows and see top show jumping competition with complimentary admission.

The Repsol Cup had 40 entries, and seven of those found the clear path to the jump-off.  Five were double clear, and the pacesetter was Christine McCrea (USA) on Win For Life, who finished in 47.19 seconds for fifth place. Peter Lutz (USA) and Retiro finished fourth in 46.55 seconds. Kara Chad and Bella Strade took the lead in 45.06 seconds, but it would not last long as Philipp Weishaupt and LB Convall moved up in 45.02 seconds.

Last to go in the ring, Lamaze had the best chance to go for a win, and he said that he was “very confident” heading into the jump-off. He and Rosana du Park, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare (Kannan x Quinine de Livoye) owned by Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Pines Stable, took nearly two seconds off of Weishaupt’s time and won in 43.08 seconds.

“This was, not to call it an easy jump-off, but we didn’t have our usual racers with Hardin and Kent, and people who seem to be able to lay it down all the time,” he said. “Philipp’s horse is a very nice horse, but I don’t think it’s a super fast horse. Kara’s is a new horse for her. I had the champion of the runners.”

While Lamaze is known for his incredible ability to ride at speed, he admitted that being in a situation where he doesn’t have to go all out is not his forte.

He laughed, “I’m not great at that, to be honest. I’ve mostly managed to screw up [a situation like this] quite often! For whatever reason, I’m better at going fast and they say you gotta go. I’m not good at managing my speed. I feel like the whole course I’m going too slow. I’m better when you just have to go.”

Lamaze was proud of his student, Kara Chad, who placed third on Saturday and was second in the difficult Scotiabank Cup 1.55m on Friday.

“Spruce Meadows is really a venue that gives opportunity to younger riders to step up and do big classes,” he said. “This is where magic happens and where they get confidence. What that competition did for Kara last night is a huge boost. Who knows where it’s going to take her. I feel like everybody has a chance to have these moments here at Spruce Meadows.”

For Weishaupt, Spruce Meadows is also a special place to prepare a young horse. His new star, LB Convall, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding, came out strong this week. Having only ridden him for six months, Weishaupt found that he was good on grass.

“He’s not so experienced, and he’s quite green on that level. He has never jumped on grass,” he said. “He felt really, really happy on the grass field. I’m really happy with that because some of them don’t like it. He liked it from day one.”

Weishaupt said he knew he “had no chance” against Lamaze. He noted, “Eric’s horse jumped amazing. She has so much more experience and is a really quick horse. I didn’t want to go crazy because my horse is only nine years old. I did what I can do without risking too much and that worked out. I’m more than happy with my second place.”

Weishaupt feels that he has a very special mount in LB Convall. “He is, I think, I hope, my next championship horse. He’s the best I have,” he said.

Following the Spruce Meadows Summer Series, Weishaupt will contest the CHIO Aachen with LB Convall.

Final Results: Repsol Cup 1.50m

1 ROSANA DU PARK: 2005 Selle Francais mare by Kannan x Quinine de Livoye
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms & Torrey Pines Stable: 0/0/43.08

2 LB CONVALL: 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Colman x Cascavelle
PHILIPP WEISHAUPT (GER), Philipp Weishaupt: 0/0/45.02

3 BELLA STRADE: 2006 Dutch Warmblood mare by Lord Z x Damiro
KARA CHAD (CAN), Stone Ridge: 0/0/45.06

4 RETIRO: 2005 Warmblood gelding by Rockefeller Z x Play Boy
PETER LUTZ (USA), Katherine Gallagher & Michael Meller: 0/0/46.55

5 WIN FOR LIFE: 2006 Zangersheide gelding by Winningmood van de Arenberg x Chatman
CHRISTINE MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/0/47.19

6 SHOWGIRL: 2000 Selle Francais mare by Gold De Becourt x Elf III
YANN CANDELE (CAN), Watermark Group: 0/4/45.52

7 ATLANTIS T: 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Padinus x Guidam
BRIAN MORTON (CAN), Grafton Farm: 0/4/47.37

8 GRAFTON: 2006 Selle Francais gelding by Calvaro x Vondeen
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Susan & Ariel Grange: 1/78.87

9 RUBENS LS LA SILLA: 2006 SLS stallion by Rebozo LS La Silla x Cash
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Vanessa Mannix: 1/78.95

10 HESTER: 2005 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Wandor Van De Mispelaere x Palestro
LUCY DESLAURIERS (USA), Lisa Deslauriers: 4/74.06

11 CADALORA P: 2007 KWPN gelding by Namelus R x Furore
TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 4/76.25

12 SINFONIE 168: 2006 Hanoverian mare by Satisfaction I x Don Juan
VLADIMIR TUGANOV (RUS), Vladimir Tuganov: 4/77.26