Edited press release from Spruce Meadows Media

Fan-favourite Amy Millar (CAN) and the 15-year-old gelding Christiano (Canoso x Compliment) ruled the day as the CSI5* ‘Continental’, presented by Rolex, kicked off at Spruce Meadows, in Calgary, Canada, on Thursday. The ‘Continental’, presented by Rolex is the first international event of the Spruce Meadows 50th Anniversary season, where more than $11 million of sponsor funded prize money is on offer for the riders.

Thursday's biggest class was the CSI5* 1.45m Mission: Possible in the All Canada Ring, where Millar and Christiano flew across the finish line clear in a time of 63.16 seconds for a first-place finish.

Sixty-eight horse-and-rider combinations challenged Canadian FEI course designer Peter Grant’s 495m track, complete with 11 jumping obstacles and 13 efforts. Closest to Millar came her compatriot Erynn Ballard (CAN), who rode Coline de Will (Cornet Obolensky x Coronino) to a time of 64.48 seconds. Kyle King (USA) and SIG Chari (Cristallo II x Landadel) completed the podium with a time of 64.97 seconds.