Katie Dinan and Sandro (Spruce Meadows Media Services)

Calgary, Alberta - Katie Dinan (USA) brought home the win as the last horse in the jump-off in the $10,000 ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup 1.40m. They sped through and made a daring jump up the bank to save time in a rollback turn, which helped them stop the timers in 42.88 seconds. Second place went to Kara Chad (CAN) and Alberto II in 43.49 seconds. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Vesuvius were third in 44.42 seconds.

Dinan explained her jump-off ride, “In the jump-off, after the skinny (jump), you went around the bank to jump the plank (fence). I couldn't leave (a stride) out to the skinny because he doesn't have a huge stride and I wanted to do the seven (strides) there instead of six. He's so brave that we planned on just jumping up the bank, which wasn't flagged or anything, to save time. That almost gets him more excited.”

She noted, “I think a lot of people think the All Canada Ring is one of the more difficult rings to ride in here because it's so hilly and there are so many natural obstacles that they use in all the classes, but funnily enough, the three years I've had him here we've mostly shown in the All Canada Ring. Sandro and I are kind of used to it and I like showing him here.”

Dinan and Sandro, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Larino x Casimir, have been together for two and a half years, and this is their third Spruce Meadows. Although he has won classes here, they had never won this class. This was their second victory of the week.

Dinan said Sandro is “a lot of fun.” She went on to say, “He definitely has the most personality of any horse you've ever met. He's a little bit of a troublemaker, but just in the most playful way possible. He always is the one kicking his stall door at the barn demanding 100% of everyone's attention. But I think that that personality really shows in the ring.”

She added, “He goes with his head up a little bit, he's fast. He looks a little bit like a pony in the ring, but he's ready to go and he thrives on it. He's competitive and wants to do the right thing. He's a great horse to be in that situation, like when I went last in the jump-off. I knew there were some fast people before me. You always feel like you can win when you go in with him.”

Final Results: $10,000 ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur 1.40m

1 SANDRO: Dutch Warmblood / G / 14 / Larino x Casimir

KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners: 0/0/42.88

2 ALBERTO II: Holstein / G / 10 / Acorado x Cassini I

KARA CHAD (CAN), Stone Ridge Farms LLC: 0/0/43.49

3 VESUVIUS: Dutch Warmblood / G / 11 / Numero Uno x Expert

MEAGAN NUSZ (USA), Amalya Investments: 0/0/44.42

4 NEOLISTO VAN HET MIERENHOF: Holstein / G / 16 / Landwind x Unknown

WILTON PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/4/43.83

5 PENINSULA APOLLO: Irish Sport Horse / G / 12 / Bolivar x Unknown

JENNIFER WHYTE (CAN), Bryte Enterprises Ltd: 0/4/45.27

6 EVEREST DE MUZE: Belgian Warmblood / G / 9 / For Pleasure x Unknown

TAYLOR ALEXANDER (USA), Alexander LLC: 0/4/45.64

7 BLACKBERRY WAY: Zangersheide / G / 10 / Caridor Z x Randel Z

BRETTON CHAD (CAN), Stone Ridge: 0/4/47.49

8 SIMBA: Dutch Warmblood / G / 9 / Sam Sam x A'khan Z

CARLY KIST (CAN), Rockpointe Equestrian: 0/4/48.51

9 VDL BELLEFLEUR: Dutch Warmblood / M / 7 / Cardento x Emilion

NICOLE BELLISSIMO (USA), Bellissimo LLC: 0/8/44.22

10 DON'T GO: Oldenburg / S / 11 / Come On x Raphael

CATHERINE TYREE (USA), Catherine Tyree: 0/8/44.82