Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

On Saturday at the Spruce Meadows 'North American' 2023, presented by Rolex, the stage was set for the $1,000,0000 CSI5* 1.60m ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Riders qualified throughout the week for the opportunity to step through the Clock Tower and take a piece of the purse. Thirty-five horse-and-rider combinations featured on the order of go for the two-round 5* Grand Prix, where the top twelve placed pairs would return for the second round.

The first round was an impressive track set by Spain's very own Santiago Varela that spanned 14 obstacles and 17 jumping efforts. Five athletes came through with four faults that carried to round two while seven pairs were clear.

The twelve athletes representing seven nations returned for the second round of competition in order or reverse merit. Four of those twelve powered through the second round of 10 obstacles and 12 jumping efforts, produced a double clear result and qualified for the deciding jump-off: Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) and Puma HS (Untouchable x Party Dance), Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Coronado (San Patrignano Cassini x Acord II), Mario Deslauriers (CAN) and Emerson (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Berlin) as well as Captain Brian Cournane (USA) and Armik (Armitage II x Justinian).

Moya was first into the ring and put the pressure on the rest of his competitors posting his third clear round of the day – now everyone else had to be faster than 38.27. Nassar used the speed and scope of his 14-year-old gelding Coronado to his advantage and galloped through the finish line in a time of 35.58 to take the win. Deslauriers and Cournane followed with valiant efforts, but both had rails and finished in third and fourth respectively. Andrew Bourns (IRL) and Sea Topblue (Chacco-Blue x Lux Z) placed fifth after four faults in round one and a clear in the second round. 

"This is just an unparalleled experience being able to show here, especially with the crowds that come in on the weekend," Nassar said afterwards. "It really feels like it’s come back to live. It’s just such a special place. It feels great to walk into the International Ring – the ambience is second to none."

First up on the International Ring on Saturday morning was the CSI5* 1.50m AKITA Drilling Winning Round. The top 30 riders from earlier in the week had qualified for the exciting two-round competition. Unlike other competitions this week, the top 10 horses from round one would come back for the winning round.

Nine combinations jumped clear, and the fastest four-fault ride made it into the top 10 as well. Pasquel and Chakkalou PS (Diablo Blanco x Stakkatol) bested the other nine combinations posting a clear, quick, ride in the winning round with a time of 53.97s to secure the win ahead of Santiago Lambre (BRA) and Zeusz (Cartogran x Chacco-Blue) in second, Mario Deslauriers (CAN) and Bardolina 2 (Clarimo x Landos) in third, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Chic Chic (Comme Il Faut x Contendro I) in fourth and Armando Hassey (MEX) aboard Lomax (Böckmann's Lord Pezi x Quo Vados) in fifth.