Kara Chad (CAN) continued her winning streak on Thursday at the Odlum Brown BC Open, adding the CSI2* $31,100 Friends of tbird 1.45m title to her earlier victory—this time aboard the 8-year-old Chicago.
Though it marked her first time winning two ranking classes in one day, Chad wasn’t surprised by the Anglo European gelding’s rapid success.
“He has so much jump,” she said of Chicago (USA Today x Cardento 933). “Everything’s a walk in the park for him. Every time I jump, he just keeps getting better. For how little he’s done, he just understands the game. Every time you ask him to do something or try to teach him something, the next time he’s better. It’s really exciting to work with the horse that you know is going to jump really big fences one day.”
Purchased from the Whitaker family in Great Britain, where he was bred and started by Will and Jim Whitaker, Chicago has thrived under Chad’s guidance. Despite limited two-star experience, she trusted he was ready for the win.
One of just six clears, Chad faced stiff competition in the jump-off.
“My plan was to be really efficient,” she explained. “That’s maybe the second jump-off I’ve done on him. He’s very good at turning back on fences. He has so much scope that I could just sit quietly and he just fires through it. The last two [fences] were a bit of a run, but he has a massive stride and he really enjoyed it.”
Their winning time of 44.97 seconds held against strong challengers, including Conor Swail (IRL) with Count Me In (2nd) and Karrie Rufer (USA) aboard Stern Dei Folletti (3rd).
Chad credits her consistent focus on pace and rhythm for these results.
“Once you get to the highest level of the sport, that’s what wins classes,” she elaborated. “It’s really important when you have the right horses, and they’re ready for it, that you focus on teaching them to go fast and teaching yourself to learn how to make that horse fast.”
The day grew even sweeter when her fiancé, Matt Sampson, won a 1.45m class in St. Gallen with the British team. Partners in Maple Park Farm, their transatlantic operation has flourished over five years of producing top horses.
“Being in it together, we’re bouncing ideas off each other and feeding off confidence from each other. When he wins a class in the morning, I’m like, ‘I’m gonna win this class later!’ Healthy competition only benefits both of us. He’s taught me so much. He’s an extremely accomplished rider and such a natural horseman.”
International jumping continues Friday with the $117,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix 1.55m.
CSI2* $31,100USD Friends of Tbird 1.45m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults/Time
- Chicago / Kara Chad / CAN / Kara Chad / 0/0/44.97
- Count Me In / Conor Swail / IRL / Mannon Farm / 0/0/45.31
- Stern Dei Folletti / Karrie Rufer / Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC / 0/0/45.85
- Ellouthago PS / Zume Gallaher / USA / Blue Gate Stables, LLC / 0/4/43.54
- Glacier ZF / Shauna Cook / CAN / Zeidler Farm Canada 2017 Ltd / 0/4/44.10
- Bynamic’s Conthaloubet / Kyle King / USA / Janet Hischer / 0/4/45.10
- Avianna / Laura Hazlett / USA / Laura Hazlett / 2/81.02
- Crown Royal / Hayley Mercer / CAN / Hayley Mercer / 4/75.81
- Maria 111 / Samantha Buirs-Darvill / CAN / Bryony Reid / 4/76.64
- Dino / Patricio Pasquel / MEX / Patricio Pasquel / 4/76.83
- Cunningham 4 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 4/77.07
- Goodbye / Bliss Heers / USA / Bridgeside Farms L.L.C. / 4/77.46
