Hugh Graham, on King Ridge Stables' Canadian Sport Horse gelding Executive Privilege 3E, won the the $40,000 Villarboit Grand Prix at the Canadian Country Classic the last weekend of August.
In a crowded jump-off field of 10 horses, Graham guided the grey gelding to victory in a time of 31.10 seconds; hot on his heels was Beth Underhill (King, ON) who went first in the jump-off and stopped the clock at 31.88 seconds.
“It was a tough enough course – I was surprised – and technical enough,” said Graham, who also took fourth place with Canadian Sport Horse gelding Fifth Estate 3E.
The class was a showcase for the show jumping talent emerging from King Ridge Stables’ Canadian Sport Horse breeding operation: 10-year-old Executive Privilege 3E was the first foal born in the King Ridge program, out of Galaxy by Class Action, two horses that Graham previously rode.
Fifth Estate 3E is also by Class Action, out of Alley Cat. Roberto Teran (King, ON) also made Sunday’s jump-off round with King Ridge’s Grand Finale 3E, a talented young Canadian Sport Horse mare that has dominated the Jump Canada Young Horse Development Series in the seven and eight year classes this year.
“It’s been a long haul, a lot of work and a lot of training. It’s nice when you get results like today,” says Graham, who’ll return to Halton Place for the $40,000 SWISSCAN Grand Prix on Sunday, September 5th, then head to Saugerties, New York, where Executive Privilege 3E will compete in a $1 million grand prix.
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