Calgary, Alberta—June 19  

It was a picture perfect day for the biggest event of the Spruce Meadows Continental CSI 5* Tournament, and it was a storybook ending for Peter Lutz and Robin de Ponthual, who scored their biggest victory together in the $375,000 CP Grand Prix.

“It’s exciting to be here, doing this level, with this great horse,” Lutz said. “This horse has been great for us for almost two years now. He’s been stepping up to this level. He’s showing us he can do it. But to actually come here and win is thrilling for us.”

Peter Lutz on Robin de Ponthual on their way to the top of the $375,000 CP Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows. Photo by Spurce Meadows Media Services

This is Lutz’s first time competing in Spruce Meadows’ international division, though he’s shown at the venue in the national classes.

“Robin really felt like he was on great form this week,” he said. “He was good last week, but I think both of us just needed to take in the environment and the atmosphere. We both learned from experience last week. This week we felt really comfortable and more relaxed. Robin really jumped beautifully today and I was so proud of him.”

Thirty-three entries contested a course designed by Luc Musette of Belgium. There were only three who found the ticket to a clear round and would advance to the jump-off.

The first in the jump-off was Charlie Jacobs with Cassinja S, a 10-year-old Zweibrucker mare (Carinjo x Cassini I). They had a steady ride through the course to finish in 41.87 seconds with no faults—the score would end up second to Lutz.

Jacobs started riding Cassinja S as a 7-year-old, and she competed in the national division at Spruce Meadows last year. These past two weeks at Spruce Meadows were the mare’s first CSI5* competitions.

“It’s been a real fulfilling experience, especially today, to come out here and jump a course of this magnitude and this delicate,” said Jacobs.

Charlie Jacobs on Cassinja. Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services

Jacobs felt that Cassinja’s education has grown in those two weeks. He noted, “If you talk to fellow horsemen and say that you brought a horse to Spruce Meadows and they did well, it’s a very high watermark that knowledgeable horse people acknowledge and respect. This is a place to bring a horse to season.”

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” he said of Spruce Meadows. “It’s especially nice that my son was in the audience today, today being Father’s Day. He and I came up here and spent the two weeks riding horses together, so it’s been a great experience.”

Next in the jump-off was Andrew Ramsay on California 62. The 12-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cassini I x Quidam de Revel) raced through the course, but the speed caught up to them at the second-to-last jump on course. They finished on 4 faults in 39.72 seconds for third place.

California 62 is a new ride for Ramsay, who only started with her at the beginning of the year.

He said, “This is by far the biggest accomplishment so far. She’s quite careful and limited on stride, so we’re working on that. The lines had a lot of options, which worked for us today. She’s a wonderful mare, and I think we’ll have to keep getting used to each other.”

Lutz could not go easy in the jump-off, as he had to go clear and quicker than Jacobs. He did just that, finishing in 40.43 seconds and no faults for the win. “I think I was a little faster to the second jump and also to the ‘All Canada’ jump. I took a gallop at it. On the way to last jump, it just felt like it came up perfectly,” he recalled.

Lutz has been riding Robin de Ponthual, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Elf D’or x Calypso D’Herbiers*Ecolit) owned by Michael Meller and Katherine Gallagher, for two years. This is their biggest victory together, but they have steadily been rising in the ranks of show jumping. They won a World Cup qualifier in Las Vegas in 2015 and jumped in the Longines FEI World Cup Finals in March.

 “We’ve built a nice relationship, and I know that I can trust the horse. I know that he can jump any size jump,” Lutz said. “He’s very brave, and I think he trusts me. We have a good bond. I know he can do anything and he believes he can too, so it’s a good match.”

Final Results: $375,000 CP Grand Prix

1 ROBIN DE PONTHUAL: 2005 Selle Francais gelding by Elf D’or x Calypso D’Herbiers*Ecolit
PETER LUTZ  (USA), Katherine Gallagher & Michael Meller: 0/0/40.43

2 CASSINJA S: 2006 Dutch Sporthorse mare by Carinjo x Cassini I
CHARES JACOBS (USA), CMJ Sporthorse, LLC: 0/0/41.88

3 CALIFORNIA 62: 2004 Holsteiner mare by Cassini I x Galant Vert
ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), The California Group: 0/4/39.73

4 GAZELLE: 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare by Kashmir Van Shuttershof x Indoctro
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Kent Farrington & Robin Parksy: 4/73.72

5 FINE LADY 5: 2003 Hanoverian mare by Forsyth x Drosselklang II
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 4/73.90

6 SUMAS ZORRO: 2004 Irish Sport Horse mare by Ard VDL Douglas x Unknown
SAMEH EL DAHAN (EGY), Joanne Sloan Allen: 4/74.66

7 LUCIFER V: 2006 Westphalian gelding by Lord Dezi x Grandeur
HARDIN TOWELL (USA), Jennifer Gates LLC: 4/75.18

8 CHICO 784: 2005 Hanoverian gelding by Cordalme Z x Sandro
PHILIPP WEISHAUPT (GER), Madeline Winter-Schulze: 4/76.60

9 GIGOLO VAN DE BROEKKANT: 2006 Belgian Sport Horse by Heartbreaker
ALBERTO MICHAN (MEX), Ilan Ferder & Tal Milstein: 4/76.81

10 HH CONRAD: 2005 Holsteiner stallion by Con Air x Locato
QUENTIN JUDGE (USA), Double H Farm: 4/77.61

11 TALOUBET: 2000 KWPN gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Quidam De Revel
PAULO SANTANA (ESA), Paulo Santana: 4/79.86

12 CALVIN KLEIN: 2004 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento x Feliciano
JONATHON MILLAR (CAN), Millar Brooke Farm Ltd: 4/79.94