Ali Ramsey and Casino win CSI3* Ottawa International II

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Ali Ramsay of Victoria, BC, scored her second consecutive victory riding Casino at Wesley Clover Parks by claiming the $37,000 CSI3* Capital Classic on Thursday, July 18, at the CSI3* Ottawa International II show jumping tournament in Ottawa, ON.

One day earlier, Ramsay had piloted Casino to his first Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) victory in the $7,000 CSI3* Welcome. In Thursday’s competition, Ramsay and Casino were one of 31 entries to contest the first-round track set by German course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. A clear round qualified them for the tie-breaking jump-off where they faced nine other opponents. The time to beat had been set at 39.24 seconds by Julia Madigan, a 23-year-old athlete hailing from Vancouver, BC, riding Farfelu du Printemps. With tight turns and Casino’s large, ground-covering stride, Ramsay stopped the timers in 39.07 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard, leaving Madigan in second.

“He’s so fun out there!” said Ramsay of Casino, an 11-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding sired by Casiro I and owned by Ramsay Equestrian Inc. “He’s really on form. It feels super nice and easy; when he’s that rideable, it’s just fun. I’m really, really happy.”

Ramsay has been taking her time moving Casino up the ranks since acquiring him two years ago, and, with the horse’s first two FEI wins coming in as many days, Ramsay is excited about his future.

“We’ve just been working on getting consistent, and I think the sky’s the limit once we get it,” said Ramsay, 27, who recently stepped out on her own to begin a riding and training business after working as assistant trainer for Canadian Olympic team silver medalist, Jill Henselwood. “He felt so good today. He made up the time [with a stride out to the last fence], and he also turned so well. He literally did everything I asked. I couldn’t have asked for more of him!”

Finishing in third with a jump-off time of 40.65 seconds was Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill riding Count Me In. The pair had won both the $36,100 CSI2* Open Welcome and the $36,100 CSI2* Classic during the CSI2* Ottawa International I, held from July 10-14. Fourth place went to Canadian Olympian Amy Millar of Perth, ON, who was the only other rider to jump double clear and stopped the clock in 41.53 seconds aboard Truman. Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, who will be making her major games debut next month at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, posted the fastest four-fault effort to place fifth with a time of 41.28 seconds riding Excellent B.

$37,000 CSI3* Capital Classic – Thursday, July 18

Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time

1. Ali Ramsay Victoria, BC Casino 0:0 39.07

2. Julia Madigan Vancouver, BC Farfelu du Printemps 0:0 39.24

3. Beth Underhill Schomberg, ON Count Me In 0:0 40.65

4. Amy Millar Perth, ON Truman 0:0 41.53

5. Nicole Walker Aurora, ON Excellent B 0:4 41.28

6. Alberto Michan Israel El Pacho 0:4 41.47

7. Ali Ramsay Victoria, BC Lutz 0:4 41.49

8. Amy Millar Perth, ON Ericson 0:4 43.82

9. Sam Walker Nobleton, ON Coralissa 0:8 41.97

10. Daniel Coyle Ireland Legacy 0:8 49.96