WELLINGTON, Fla. - Olympic gold medallist and world No. 1 show jumper Eric Lamaze continued his winning ways Thursday, taking the US$30,000 Winter Equestrian Festival Challenge Cup.
The Schomberg, Ont., rider advanced to the jump-off after posting a clear first round. Lamaze went last in the jump-off and needed to catch Britain's Peter Charles, who had posted a clear round in a time of 34.36 seconds.
Lamaze guided Narcotique de Muze II to a clear round in a time of 34.14 seconds to earn his first victory of 2009.
"She is a winner, and I know her well," said Lamaze of the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Ashland Stables. "She is always behind the scenes behind Hickstead (his Olympic mount), but she has been the work horse. Everywhere she goes, she manages to do something good. She is fast in the air, and has a big stride."
Lamaze, 40, took home $9,000. He will also compete on Sunday in the $50,000 Braman Motorcars Grand Prix with Take Off, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Artisan Farms.
