Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour

The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) saw CSI2* competition at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper culminate early Sunday afternoon in the Walnut Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park with the $50,000 1.45m FEI Grand Prix. After yet another exciting competition at this international rating, it was ultimately Jonathon Millar (CAN) aboard 11-year-old Isotropic Shadow (Quintender 2 x Landclassic), owned by Isotropic Network, who took the top spot on the podium. 

Forty-nine horse-and-rider combinations navigated the 15-effort first-round course set by Alan Wade, while nine pairs would move on to battle it out in the 7-effort tie breaker. Richie Moloney (IRL) and Huzaar (Untouched x Skippy II) were the first to maneuver the track fault-free, followed by the winning combination of the week’s $37,000 1.45m Welcome CSI2*, Shawn Casady and RMF Chacco Top (Chacco-Blue x Graf Top). Seven more athletes from five nations would go on to add their names to the good list to create a nine-horse jump-off.

Moloney was the first to return for the shortened course and set a fast pace in 33.13 seconds aboard Hazaar, making up time by galloping down to the last fence in one less stride than was seen down the same line in the first round. Casady tackled the course next, laying down an incredibly quick pace of 31.05 seconds. Despite earning the fastest time of the class, an unfortunate rail left him off the top of the leaderboard. 

It wasn’t until Millar and Isotropic Shadow, who previously placed third during last week’s CSI2* Grand Prix, entered the arena, that we saw our fastest double-clear round. He took advantage of Isotropic Shadow’s naturally quick pace and tight turning ability to take a shot and race through the timers in 31.37 seconds, besting Moloney by nearly two seconds. Moloney ultimately settled for second place, while Carlie Fairty (CAN) and Elite-Chin de Saulieu (Cassini II x Chin Chin) rounded out the podium in third just behind Moloney on a time of 33.38.

Up next, the Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour will look to the West Coast of the United States for two brand new stops as it heads to Portland, Oregon with a CSI2* rating from August 3-7, and a week of national competition August 10-14, before debuting in Paso Robles for CSI2* competition September 7-11. For more information on the 2022 tour, visit our website at splitrockjumpingtour.com.