Schuyler Riley and Opus Sept “Fly” to Friday Night Win at Gelderland in the Netherlands
Equestrian News Release
Wellington, Fl – July 19 -Schuyler Riley and Opus Sept, winners of the $175,000 Chrysler Classic at Spruce Meadows in Canada on Sunday, traveled over four thousand miles on Monday and Tuesday and then continued their winning ways on Friday at Outdoor Gelderland CSI*** in The Netherlands.
Held in Holland at Rheden, Outdoor Gelderland was staged at the beautiful Middachten Estate, complete with a castle and a long history dating back to 1190. In addition to show jumping, dressage, eventing and driving events were held as part of the festivities as well. It was, according to Schuyler Riley, an ideal setting for an equestrian competition. “Simply beautiful,” she said. “They did a fantastic job. They had a great crowd every night, the riders were treated well, the courses and course designers were great, and they had excellent footing. The stabling was nice and,” Riley laughed, “they had plenty of shopping.”
Riley and her equine partners met up after the long flight from Canada on Monday. “They left Calgary on Monday and flew into Luxembourg,” Riley detailed. “They had a short layover at Johann Heinz’s farm and then arrived at the show at Gelderland on Thursday morning for the jog.”
Following a brief warm up on Thursday, Riley felt that Opus Sept and Ilian were prepared to do battle once again. “They both warmed up beautifully, so I knew they were ready,” Riley said. “I wanted to make sure the trip hadn’t taken too much out of them, but in the warm up area they were fit, fresh and ready to go. I normally wouldn’t have shown so quickly, but both horses are getting a three week vacation now.”
Following a sixth place finish with Ilian in the Grand Prix Qualifier on Friday morning, Riley stormed to victory in the Wegener Huis-Aan-Huiskranten Prix, a Gold League level international competition, scored under Table A, with a winning round. It was the featured event during Friday’s opening night session.
“The ‘winning round’ format for the class we won was a bit different,” Riley explained. “Riders are divided into groups of four and you advance to the jump-off by being the best of your group. There were seven groups and the top seven riders jumped off. So, to win this class, you not only have to go clear, but you have to go clear and fast. Twice,” she said. “Once, to win your group and then again, to win the class.”
“I was so impressed with Opus,” Riley acknowledged. “He jumped so amazingly well in the Chrysler Classic on the big open field of grass, and to come here to Holland and jump in exact opposite conditions was extraordinary. This arena was like an indoor ring; small, with stadium seating and the footing was sand,” noted Riley. “There was a great atmosphere. The crowds were big and enthusiastic and this was opening night, so it was really exciting. But, it was a huge change of environment for Opus,” she said. “He was superb and really had to go quite fast in the jump-off to secure the win.”
Ilian and Riley had four faults in Sunday’s main event and finished eleventh. “Ilian was super in the first round of the Grand Prix,” Riley explained. “But unfortunately, I went early, which seeded me early in the jump-off and I had an early rail and wound up eleventh.” Riley’s time, had she been clean, would have netted her a fourth place finish.
Ilian and Opus Sept now get three weeks off before resuming competition at the final week of the Horse Festival at Valkenswaard. “I’ll have Nottingham and Cincinnati Kid at Valkenswaard for the first two weeks of the festival,” Riley said.
Official Results – Gelderland CSI*** - WEGENER HUIS-AAN-HUISKRANTEN PRIX International Jumping Competition -Gold League -Table A 1.45m with winning round
1 OPUS SEPT Schuyler RILEY (USA) 0.00/ 0.00 36.60
2 HBC CANTOS Julia KAYSER (AUT 0.00/ 0.00 36.78
3 POKEMON 8 Ulrich KIRCHHOFF (GER) 0.00/ 0.00 37.70
4 CANDY BOY 2 Beat MANDLI (SUI) 0.00/ 0.00 40.07
5 VDL PESSOA Vitor ALVES TEIXEIRA (BRA) 8.00/ 0.00 41.01
6 SERENTA LA SILLA Rolf Goran BENGSSTON (SWE)0.00/ 4.00 36.31
7 LINCOLN Gert Jan BRUGGINK (NED) 0.00/12.00 39.27
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