U.S. competitors Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton dominated the top placings in the major divisions at the Mars Equestrian: Bromont CCI in Quebec, Canada, with Phillip rising from 15th in dressage on Azure in the 4-Star Long to first after cross-country, clinching the title in show jumping while accumulating just 0.4 time penalties in that final segment on Sunday.
Discussing Saturday’s cross-country route laid out by Olympic course designer Derek Di Grazia, Phillip noted, “The course was difficult, with the combination of terrain, jumps and the time that was hard to get.”
For Azure, he observed, “it was a bit of an eye-opener…and it’s certainly the toughest thing she’s done. The terrain is undulating, you’re constantly up and down, which probably takes about 15 percent off your speed when you’re trying to go fast.
“But she knows me pretty well now and I trust her, so I’m able to shave off time on the approach to the jumps as well. We’re forming a good partnership and hopefully it will grow from here.”
Arielle Aharoni, a veteran of the Bromont Rising development grant program, and Dutch Times were impressive in second place, moving up from eighth in dressage to second after cross-country and finishing double-clear in the final phase with a score of 41.3.
Last weekend’s Essex Horse Trials winner, Hannah Sue Hollberg, brought a different horse, Capitol HIM, to the facility that was the venue of the 1976 Olympics for third place (42.4).
Boyd, who like his friend Phillip grew up in Australia, did not have an entry in the 4-Star Long, focused on three other divisions, bringing home the win in each.
Phillip Dutton and Azure. (Cealy Tetley photo)
He took the 4-Star Short with On Cue (45.8) while Phillip settled for second there aboard his Olympic mount, the much-traveled Z (51.7).
Bromont was a prep for the Aachen, Germany competition this summer,where Phllip is on the U.S. team with Z.
Boyd paid his 17-year-old mare, rehabbed from a strained tendon, quite a compliment: “She would have to be the best cross-country horse I have ever ridden. She’s just back in the swing of things and it was a monstrous 4-Star Short course and she just went around on a loose rein.
“She’s smart, she’s careful and she gallops like the wind. She’s brave, easy to turn and sees a fence in a split second.”
Boyd Martin and On Cue. (Cealy Tetley Photo)
Boyd topped the 3-Star Long with Chiraz, winning on his dressage score of 29.6. In the 2-Star Long, he again took the measure of Phillip, victorious on his dressage score there as well, an impressive 23 penalties with Asti’s Charming. Phillip was close behind with Fernhill’s Shutterfly (24.9) and got a little revenge, since Boyd was third on Mo Chroi (26.9) rather than finishing 1-2.
“We’ve only been together a short time and I didn’t really know what to expect,” Boyd said of Chiraz.
“He put in a fantastic round and although we had a couple of iffy fences…he kept fighting for me and we finished just inside the time.”
