BLAINVILLE, QUEBEC Amy Millar, of Perth, Ontario, continued the Millar winning streak today, partnered with a mount she hardly knows, but with whom she hopes for a bright future. 30-year-old Millar logged an upset victory in the $25,000 Modified Grand Prix at the Jumping Internationale de Blainville tournament, at Blainville Equestrian Park north of Montreal. Riding Picco Bello, a horse that was purchased in Europe in the early spring and just recently arrived in Canada, Amy topped a field of 28.
“It was a very difficult course”, she said, after leading a four-way jump-off that included Canadian Champion Laurie Bucci and Marie Hecart, of France, who finished second and third, respectively. “I’ve just had my horse for two weeks”, an elated Amy added.
Picco Bello is an 8-year-old, Belgian-bred mare. She was purchased in Holland, but had been jumping in France last year, where she was ranked among the top five 7-year-olds in young horse jumping competition. A modified grand prix is a grand prix-type course, with the level of difficulty modified slightly to suit horses who are just approaching the grand prix level.
Amy won a $25,000 grand prix last weekend, aboard Navarre, in Ste. Justine-de-Newton, Quebec, narrowly defeating her older brother Jonathon. Jonathon had been the grand prix winner the week before, also in Ste. Justine-de-Newton. Jonathon kicked off the Blainville tournament with second-place in the $20,000 Open Welcome Stake yesterday. Their father, Ian Millar, will represent Canada later this month at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All three members of “Team Millar” will contest the $70,000 World Cup Qualifier in Blainville tomorrow.
The Millars are believed to be the only father, son and daughter show jumping partnership who are all active at the grand prix level simultaneously.
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