In a sea of Irish winners all week, Czechian rider Valcalv Stanek found his way to the top of the leaderboard in the $500,000 RBC Grand Prix of Canada, presented by Rolex.
After navigating FEI Course Designer Olaf Petersen Jr.’s (GER) first round track set at 590m with featuring 14 obstacles (17 jumping efforts) under the time allowed of 89 second, Stanek along with nine others qualified for the jump off.
Aboard the 15 year-old Quintin, a mount he’s had Grand Prix victory on before at Spruce Meadows, Stanek bested them all crossing the jump off finish line clear in a time of 42.72s.
“I really like this place (Spruce Meadows). Like I said before, I was watching videos from this place since I was a little kid and hoping that one day I can even kind of see it. I wouldn't even dream about riding here. So it's really a dream come true to come here (Spruce Meadows) and win the Grand Prix, and then next year, do it again. That is really unbelievable. “ - Vaclav Stanek (CRZ) on competing at Spruce Meadows, winning last year’s Duncan Ross Grand Prix and winning this year’s RBC Grand Prix of Canada, presented by Rolex.
Jordan Coyle (IRL) showed us again that the Irish sure know how to go fast. The APEX Cup, presented by APEX Land was a Table C competition - meaning faults are converted to time and if you’re going fast enough, a rail might not matter.
One of the last few horses to go, Coyle aboard, For Gold, pulled out all the stops. Making the tightest of turns and galloping forward at every chance, Coyle passed through the finish line in a time of 83.51s that included a single rail on course.
No one could catch him, and once again the Irish were at at the top of the leaderboard.
Top 10 placed
Jordan Coyle (IRL) & For Gold
Matthew Sampson (GBR) & Ebolensky
Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Kapitaal L
Kyle King (USA) & Sig Chiari
Nicole Walker (CAN) & Atout Des Trambles
Darragh Kenny (IRL) & Mendoza VDL
Conor Swail (IRL) & One Edition
Ana Sofia Legorreta Hernandez (MEX) & Bonfois Van’t Hof V Santa Rosa
