The $50,000 Antares Grand Prix, presented by Mary’s Tack & Feed, one of 12 2008 World Cup qualifiers being held on the West Coast, was the headliner event of the 8th Del Mar International Horse Show. Capping a week of children’s, adult amateur and professional classes, the Grand Prix took place before an enthusiastic crowd on the evening of Sept. 29.



The course, designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr., at first appeared deceptively easy, as four of the first seven to go posted clear rounds. After the seventh pair, Will Simpson and El Campeon’s Tosca, however, all the remaining riders pulled rails.
The first obstacle and fence 7, a large oxer facing the in-gate, proved to be trouble spots for more than a few riders, as did the triple combination at fence 9, which was positioned in a corner of the arena and close up against the crowd. Certain fences which looked intimidating, such as the multi-colored wall of Legos at 6, stayed up for most, although fitting in the four strides to 7 after a forward ride to the wall may have proved to be the difficulty with that element. Fence 10, “a skinny vertical after the combination,” according to Simpson, did not present as much of a challenge as he expected.
Simpson was last to go in the jump-off, a course of eight efforts over seven fences. First up was Irish veteran Eddie Macken aboard Tedechine Sept. With eight jumping faults and a time of 47.15, they finished in third place. Next up were Keri Potter and the handsome dark bay Rockford I. Most unfortunately, Keri had a refusal and a fall at the last fence, a long gallop to a vertical. She rose unaided and appeared at the awards ceremony and victory gallop, so apparently suffered no serious injury.



Guy Thomas and Carino also posted eight faults, but a time of 46.96 put them in second place ahead of Eddie. Will and Tosca put in the sole clear round of the jump-off, and, at 48.10, were within the time allowed.
Simpson praised the 11 year old mare, a Belgian Warmblood that has been going Grand Prix for two years as being “in top form” at Del Mar. He aims to bring her to the next World Cup qualifying event in Las Vegas in November, but first, she’ll go home to “have some time off to do her thing,” said Simpson. He said that Tosca enjoys going for trail rides in western tack, which she’ll do before coming indoors to begin preparing for Vegas. “You can only keep them in form for so long,” said Simpson, who believes in cross-training to keep his horses sharp.
Simpson will also be bringing the gelding Carlsson Vom Dach, with whom he placed tenth at Del Mar, to Vegas. He described both horses as “intense competitors, brave, careful and fast.” As Simpson has only been riding the gelding since April, he expects to see improved performances as the pair gets to know each other better.
Following Keri Potter in fifth place were the fastest of the four-faulters, Rich Fellers and Flexible; up-and-coming 20 year old Jill Humphrey and Lou Bega took sixth; Francie Steinwedell-Carvin and Ness-Go were in seventh place; and Allison Kroff took eighth with Nomogradf. In spite of a frightening refusal at fence 11, Chris Pratt and Royal Beach Farao took ninth place. They were followed by the eight-faulters, Simpson in tenth, Jill Humphrey in eleventh with Kaskaya and Guy Thomas with Carlas in twelfth. Del Mar regulars Ali Nilforushan and Mandy Porter finished in thirteenth and fourteenth, respectively, aboard Voice and Summer.



The evening began with a contest of dog agility that delighted the crowd. Ten finalists made their way over a course of tunnels, ladders and jumps, and Wish, an enthusiastic 3 year old Border Collie was the winner. Her owner and handler, Jay Picking from Anaheim Hills, received a $750 check and gift card from sponsor Mary’s Tack & Feed.
Simpson and Tosca also emerged on top in the $5,000 1.4m Jumper class earlier in the week, and the 1.45m Jumper Classic was won by Rich Fellers aboard Cruiser.
The $1,000 Children’s Jumper Classic was won by Genevieve Engelhorn aboard Reet Petite; the $1,000 Adult Amateur Jumper Classic by Juliet Sears LeDorze with Ballet; the $1,500 Junior/Amateur Owner Section I Jumper Classic by Josephina Nor and Chello Z; and the $5,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Section II Jumper Classic by Kristine Crossland and Destino 44.
The winning team of the $5000 West Coast Active Riders Prix de Nations class included Christina Caruso and Jinsara, Karl Cook and Uno de Laubry, Alec Lawler and Live Fire and Emily Livermore and Tulip.