Ishoy ekes out Royal victory

Veteran books World Cup ticket ‘That was close,’ dressage ace says

A mere .6 per cent separated winner Cindy Ishoy from alsoran status in the Canadian League World Cup dressage class at the Royal Winter Fair last night. But a win’s a win and Ishoy and her mount Proton will now pack up their tack and fly over to Amsterdam next spring to represent Canada in the international World Cup finals.

‘‘ Whew, that was close,” Ishoy said of capturing the only finals berth up for grabs.

“ He did really well. It was a difficult test and he’s still green, but he really pulled it off.”

Proton, an 11- year- old Baden Wurttemberg gelding, nearly came undone just before entering the ring for the Grand Prix Kur when a spectator took a flash- camera picture right in his face.

‘‘ But once I got him into the ring, he did great,” Ishoy added.

“ When he gets into his own space, he says ‘ I know this job.’ ’’

Ishoy led the pack with a score of 71.7. Quebecer Evi Strasser finished second on her 10- yearold chestnut Oldenburg gelding Quantum Tyme with 71.1. Jacquie Brooks of Mount Albert placed third on Gran Gesto with 68.8 per cent, Nancy MacLachlan and Ariston were fourth with 63.1 and Whitney Harris on Nektor was fifth. A disappointed Strasser, who also finished second in last year’s World Cup at the Royal and was placed first by two of the three judges last night, said her horse had a good test, but “ this is my life, to be close but not there.”

Strasser, who came to Canada from Germany in 1988, has had an unbeaten year in the Grand Prix event, with four wins. The Grand Prix Kur, however, — which is set to music — proved her undoing last night.

Ishoy and Proton rode their Kur to a medley chosen by her 21- year- old daughter.

Ishoy credits the 11- year-old Proton for bringing back her competitve drive, 16 years after the death of Dynasty, who finished second in the 1988 World Cup final, also in Amsterdam.

Dynasty and Ishoy anchored Canada to a team bronze at the Seoul Olympics, Canada’s only dressage medal ever at the games. The 53- year- old mother of two bought Proton, a flashy dark brown gelding, as a 5- yearold in Germany on a trip with husband Neil.

‘‘ Neil tried him out a few times and he just got better and better,” Ishoy recalled.