Conor Swail and Count Me In won Saturday’s CSI5* 1.60m ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Spruce Meadows 'North American' 2024. Photo © Spruce Meadows Media/Kevin Udahl.
Edited press release from Spruce Meadows
An emotional Conor Swail (IRL) won Saturday’s CSI5* 1.60m ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Spruce Meadows 'North American' 2024, leading a determined starting competition of 40 of the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations to take the coveted prize on the back of his beloved Count Me In (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes). A tearful Swail told onlookers how just last year the now 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding stopped performing out of the blue, but this year his ‘horse of a lifetime’ is back in full swing.
Swail said: “Honestly, what that horse has done for me is just incredible. The highlight reel for me is basically him in my career. He went through a little bad patch last year where we weren't that comfortable jumping bigger. And then, we've just built him back up nicely. And honestly, he feels as good as ever.”
Twelve pairs advanced to the second round, but only four made it to the jump-off: Swail, Canada’s Amy Millar, American Nicholas Dello Joio, and Neal Fearon – also of Ireland. In the end, Swail was victorious while Amy Millar and Truman (Mylord Carthago x Kolibri) finished second and Nicholas Dello Joio aboard Cornet’s Cambridge (Balou du Reventon x Cambridge 8) came third.
An elated Swail, who finished his clear jump-off round in 39.29s, declared afterwards: “It feels amazing. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is one of the most prestigious Grand Prix in the world.”
Amy Millar, Conor Swail and Nicholas Dello Joio with the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Photo © Spruce Meadows Media/Bart Onyszko.
Millar, who will soon head to France as one of the Team Canada Olympic showjumpers, was over the moon with her second place finish. “This is my last class before Paris so I couldn’t be feeling better about everything that's going on with that horse and myself and our Canadian team going into what's coming up next. Right now, our team is looking fantastic. All the horses are jumping clean, all the riders are riding great. Really, that’s all you can ask for.”
Dello Joio was more dejected after finishing in a swift 36.79s but knocking a rail down on the final fence. “It's hard going first, especially with these guys behind you,” Dello Joio said. “You got to think, do as much as you can to shut the door and really make them chase. I think I just chanced it a little bit too much. But I couldn't be happier with my horse. I mean, he jumped unbelievably today.”
The trio and their competitors enjoyed one of Spanish course designer Santiago Varela Ulastres’ last creations before he too heads to Paris, where he will join fellow designer, Gregory Bodo of France as Olympic course designer.
CSI5* 1.50m AKITA Drilling Cup to Alex Matz and Cashew Cr
Alex Matz and Cashew Cr, winners of the CSI5* 1.50m AKITA Drilling Cup. Photo © Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk.
Alex Matz (USA), aboard the Holsteiner-gelding Cashew Cr (Cassini II x Quinar Z) couldn’t hide his delight as the pair took first place in the CSI5* 1.50m AKITA Drilling Cup winning round on Saturday morning. The duo topped a starting competition of 43 and a ten-rider jump-off, to take the top spot ahead of Nayel Nassar (EGY), the winner of Friday’s main event – the ATCO Cup 1.50m. Nassar came second with Coronado (San Patrignano Cassini x Acord II), while Sameh El Dahan (GBR) was third atop WKD Toronto (Tornesch 1042 x Carnaval Drum).
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