There were 37 entries in this Grand Prix, build by Luc Musette of Belgium, but only three were able to go clear in the first round to advance to the jump-off. Skelton noted: "It wasn't overly big, but it was quite tricky.” Skelton already won two classes in the opening week of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. This time on Big Star (Quick Star x Nimmerdor), an eight-year-old KWPN stallion who has been owned by Everse Stables. Mario and Mischa sold the horse to Egbert Schep and Alan Waldman, who did business with Skelton's sponsors.
Skelton said of his jump-off ride: "I watched Brianne Goutal go and I thought she was quick, but I was worried about Yann Candele on Redefin because I know he can go faster than I could, so I thought that I had better get going. I rode badly really, because one to two I got too quick and then I couldn't turn him back to three, so I was very lucky at three." He also noted that the long run to the final oxer didn't faze the young horse. "It didn't seem to bother him," he agreed. "You can do whatever you want with him."
Skelton has had Big Star since he was five years old. Although Skelton has competed in six Olympic Games and has ridden some of the most prolific show jumpers in history, he feels that Big Star is something really special. He said, "I have had some really good horses, but I don't think I have ever had one as good as this one. He is a freak. For an eight-year-old horse, he has the brain of a 12-year-old. He is really something else, and he has all the qualities that you need."
Results:
1 BIG STAR: 2003 KWPN stallion by Quick Star x Nimmerdor
NICK SKELTON (GBR), Beverly and Gary Widdowson: 0/0/40.80
2 NICE DE PRISSEY: 2001 Selle Francais stallion by Rosire x Amarpour
BRIANNE GOUTAL (USA), Cloverleaf Farm: 0/0/43.85
3 REDEFIN: 1998 KWPN gelding by Larino x Zeus
YANN CANDELE (CAN), Susan Grange: 0/4/44.83
4 MIKA: 2000 Selle Francais gelding by Nidor Platiere x Rubis Rouge
REED KESSLER (USA), Reed Kessler: 1/76.65
5 LAPSUS DU LAVOIR: 1999 Selle Francais Gelding by Animo x Vol d'Amour
LJUBOV KOCHETOVA (RUS), Ljubov Kochetova: 1/77.03
6 QUIDAM'S RAMIRO: 1997 Holsteiner Gelding by Quidam De Revel x Ramiro
EMILY GEORGE (CAN), Julie George: 1/77.83
7 UTAN: 2001 KWPN Gelding by Burggraaf x Concorde
ANGELA COVERT-LAWERENCE (CAN), Eastwood Group: 1/78.11
