Edited press release from Spruce Meadows
It was a sea of red, white, and blue as Americans Nicholas Dello Joio, on Cornet’s Cambridge (Balou du Reventon x Cambridge 8), and Elena Haas, with Claude (Captain Jack 44 x Cefalo), came first and second in Thursday’s Fourth of July Jayman BUILT Cup at the Spruce Meadows 'North American'.
The 1.55m International Ring competition — the qualifier for this summer’s biggest Grand Prix event [at Spruce Meadows] on Saturday — started with 64 but was whittled down to just nine jump-off finalists, with Mexico’s Patricio Pasquel and Chakkalou PS (Diablo Blanco x Stakkatol) arriving third.
The top 40 riders from Thursday’s event will advance to the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, where Dello Joio will follow the same advice his showjumping legend father, Norman, gave him Thursday, for guiding Cornet’s Cambridge.
“Dad was basically like, you know, put him in drive and keep him in cruise control,” Dello Joio, 35, said. “He loves galloping on that big open field. I mean, especially in the second round, he didn’t really have to try. You just kind of turn him loose at his own natural pace."
“He’s big but he moves like a thoroughbred. It’s unbelievable for such a big horse. He’s so light on his feet, which makes him catlike in those jump-offs."
“He’s fast enough without any gas on the fire.”
Dello Joio, who is back in top form following surgeries on both hips and his groin just last year, planned to mark his Fourth of July win sensibly. He said: “No celebrating tonight. We’ll be back out here tomorrow morning. We’ve got another big day ahead.”
But there was room for a little fun, as Dello Joio made a cheeky dig at his Canadian hosts, referring to last month’s Edmonton Oilers loss in the Stanley Cup finals. “I think between this and the Panthers winning the Cup, I’m pretty happy being up here in Canada,” said Dello Joio, who is from Wellington, Florida.