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Jonathon Millar Kicks Off 2008 in Winning Form

January 13, 2008

Wellington, FL --- While preparing for the upcoming 2008 show jumping season in Florida, Jonathon Millar and Fancy Hill were victorious today in the $25,000 grand prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre. Bettering 37 starters, Millar, of Perth, Ontario, advanced to a 9-way tie-breaker as heavy rain clouds hovered overhead. Second-to-go in the jump-off, Millar and Fancy Hill stopped the clock at 42.394 seconds, but had one knockdown. Still, no one was able to jump the tie-breaker faultlessly as heavy rain pounded the final contenders.

Frederico Sztyrle on Ambra 47 was Millar's closest rival, also lowering one rail, and clocking a time of 43.039. Sztyrle rides for Argentina, but is based in the U.S.

This week marked the first outing for Millar and Fancy Hill since their second-place finish in the Canadian Championships in November. 33-year-old Millar finished runner-up to his legendary father, Ian Millar, in the national championships.

"She's such a good winner", Millar said of his 13-year-old, German-bred mare. "She really wins more than not". Fancy Hill was sired by For Pleasure who earned two Olympic team gold medals for Germany under two different riders. Millar says he will pick and choose when he uses her through the busy upcoming winter series, so they won't overdo it before the Canadian summer circuit. "That's where she won so much last year", Millar said. "She'll do anything for me, so I don't want to ask too much."

Lauren Hunkin, a native of Caledon, Ontario who now resides in Perth to train with Ian Millar, was the only other Canadian who completed the competition. She just missed the tie-breaker, finishing eleventh aboard Orleans.

Today's competition was at one of three complexes that have been combined to create the newly-expanded and renovated Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre. Competition in the main grand prix arena will include a team competition and Olympic team selection processes for at least two nations, over the next twelve weeks.

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