Edited press release from Spruce Meadows
Friday's final competition in the International Ring at the Spruce Meadows 'North American' tournament, saw Kent Farrington (USA) and Orafina (For Fashion x Canturo) taking the top honours.
The CSI5* 1.55m Scotiabank Cup was the final qualifier for the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup taking place on Saturday, and had a challenging 532m track designed by FEI course designer Peter Holmes (CAN). Only three horse-and-rider combinations delivered clear rounds and advanced to the jump-off; Kent Farrington on two different mounts, Orafina and Gazelle (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro), as well as Katherine Strauss (USA) on Fair Field (VDL Zirocco Blue x Chin Chin).
Strauss did her best to challenge Farrington, but unfortunately a rail in the jump-off left her in second place, with Farrington taking the win with Orafina, as well as the third place with Gazelle after he opted not to jump his 16-year-old mare against the clock.
"There's a balance between the light modern sport and a bit of the old-fashioned style jumping, that we see here [Spruce Meadows], where the horses get a lot of experience," Kent Farrington said about the kind of sport to expect at Spruce Meadows.
Federico Fernandez (MEX) and Davidoff (Olympic Fire x Paradiesvogel) placed fourth, while Rowan Willis (AUS) and Billy Guilder (Billy Kongo x Cavalier Royale) finished fifth.
The top five horse-and-rider combinations from this competition have qualified for the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup Grand Prix on Saturday, July 9, 2022.