When Eugenie Angot of France had 1 time fault in the second round of the $893,654 CN International today, Sept. 10, she left the International Arena thinking that she’d be third or fourth—and she was thrilled.

But one by one each of the four riders behind her who returned with faultless scores—defending champion Beezie Madden, Gerco Schroeder, Michael Whitaker and Ian Millar—accrued faults over Leopoldo Palacios’ course. And when Millar dropped the first of his two rails, Angot celebrated the richest victory of her career aboard Cigale du Tallis.

“This was unbelievable,” said Angot in her first trip to Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alta. “It’s like a dream come true.”

Cigale du Tallis is her own fairytale. The 16-year-old, Selle Francais mare has had a plethora of physical problems, including major colic surgery, but has only become better with age. And when her owner, Bernard Boutellier, chose Angot to compete the mare three years ago, a magical partnership was formed.

“She’s a lady, that’s for sure. You have to ride her the way she wants you to,” said Angot. “But after the first grand prix, I said, ‘This is the best horse I have ever ridden.'”

They’ve now achieved impressive milestones, including fourth in the 2004 FEI World Cup Final in Italy and consistent appearances on the French team.

Angot’s week was made all the more challenging when her groom fell down the stairs the first night at Spruce Meadows. So Angot was without help until her husband and grand prix rider, Cedric Angot, flew in on Thursday.

It will be a celebration now, as Eugenie collected $290,437. She and her husband plan a vacation in Corsica following the competition. “It will be in a five-star hotel now!” she said laughing.

Schroeder’s one mistake with Eurocommerce Milano left him second but he’ll return to the Netherlands a whole lot richer as he pocketed $178,730.

Madden chose to ride Desilvio today instead of her 2005 winning partner Judgement, and she came excruciatingly close to posting a second consecutive CN title. One rail in the second round left her third. “Judgement is 15 now, and he jumped two rounds in the Nations Cup great. I didn’t want to make him jump another day,” she said.

Desilvio and Madden jumped flawlessly over Palacios’ first-round course, and they were one of just six pairs to do so. The course took its toll in several areas, but the most challenging element was a bending line midway through the course that included the Canada planks, five strides to the open water and then seven strides to the Dutch Bicycle.

The nemesis bicycle caught Will Simpson and El Campeon’s Tosca, and Jeffery Welles, who had jumped double clear in the previous day’s BMO Nations Cup, had a heartbreaking rail at the final fence. Laura Kraut and Anthem also came close to perfection. Unfortunately, Anthem took down a rail at the very first fence on course, but they regrouped and jumped the hardest parts of the course brilliantly. The three were all quick, so their first-round times still qualified them for the second round, which included the top 12.

In the end, Welles and Armani placed seventh, Kraut and Anthem were ninth and Simpson with Tosca placed 12th.

Whitaker and Millar, who battled yesterday in the Nations Cup, couldn’t keep the rails up in today’s second round. Both Insul Tech Mozart Des Hayettes and In Style collected faults to place fourth and eighth, respectively.

Yesterday’s young Canadian star, Erynn Ballard of Canada, continued her dream weekend with a clear first round. But 13 faults in the second round left her 11th.

Today’s beautiful weather in Calgary resulted in an all-time attendance record of 62,250.