Uruguay’s Juan Manuel Luzardo arrived in Langley, BC less than 24 hours before the start of Thunderbird Show Park’s Canadian Premier, but needed no time to find his bearings in the CSI2* Welcome 1.40m. Aboard the fleet-footed Guizmo du Riou, Luzardo stopped the clock on the Gregory Bodo-designed speed course at 58.93 seconds—edging tbird veteran Conor Swail (IRL) by a breathtaking 0.02 seconds.
Swail and Kazelli VDL took second in 58.95 seconds, while Susan Horn (CAN) and Chacca Keeps II completed the podium in 59.81 seconds.
“We got here last night from Mexico, so I tried to be smooth, but my horse is really fast so I cut some turns and it was enough to win today,” said Luzardo, who will continue his Canadian tour at Spruce Meadows next month. “I heard a lot of good things about Thunderbird and I’m glad that I’m here.”
The 10-year-old Selle Français gelding Guizmo du Riou (Up To You x Le Tot de Semilly) has been under Luzardo’s saddle since 2024. According to Jumpr Stats, the pair have jumped to three 2* Grand Prix wins and 16 international podium finishes.
“I bought him two years ago in France,” Luzardo added. “We are doing the Grand Prix in Mexico, so we know each other really well.”
Though Luzardo, 46, competes under the flag of Uruguay, he has called Mexico home for nearly a quarter-century. After spending more than half his life in the “land of the sun,” he says he’s practically Mexican.
“There isn’t much show jumping in Uruguay,” he said. “That’s why I live in Mexico. I have for 24 years. I’m close to being Mexican.”
The CSI2* division continues Thursday with the Grand Prix Qualifier and concludes with Saturday’s feature event, the CSI2* Grand Prix at 3:00pm.
$5,000 CSI2* Welcome 1.40m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
- Guizmo du Riou / Juan Manuel Luzardo / URU / Juan Manuel Luzardo / 0 58.93
- Kazelli VDL / Conor Swail / IRL / Johnjoe Gallagher / 0 58.95
- Chacca Keeps II / Susan Horn / CAN / Kingsfield Farm / 0 59.81
- CMS Garadice Shore / Karianne Boyce-Lockhart / USA / Karianne Boyce-Lockhart / 0 60.93
- Stern dei Folletti / Karrie Rufer / USA / Morning Star Sporthorses LLC / 0 61.69
- Springsteen / Carly Stevens / CAN / Susan Stevens / 0 62.25
- Steadfast / Tiffany Foster / CAN / Artisan Farms / 0 63.69
- Dominka van de Lucashoeve / Susan Horn / CAN / Kingsfield Farm / 0 63.7
- Lordy-P / Gavin Moylan / CAN / Foxstone Equine LLC / 0 65.17
- Caipirinha de Reve / Guillaume Henaut / BEL / Alicia Gadban-Henaut / 0 65.53
Photo credit: Kim Gaudry for tbird
