Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

Matthew Sampson of Great Britain leapt to victory in Saturday's 1.45-1.50m AON Cup, the only CSI5* event on day three of the The ‘Continental’, presented by Rolex, at Spruce Meadows. 

Sampson and One Whisper (Daniel x Kannan) beat Friday’s top rider Canadian Erynn Ballard with Fave D’Authuit (Cornet Obolensky x Kannan), by nearly half a second in the jump-off, coming in at a clean 39.26s compared to Ballard’s 39.62. Brazil’s Gabriel De Matos Machado and Donner (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Heartbreaker) came third at 39.81s.

"This would be one of the best rings in the world,” a delighted Sampson said. “Spruce Meadows is definitely one of my favourite places to come. It was nice to get a win so early in the Spruce Meadows season, it’s what we all come here to do, so it’s great. Especially with so many in the class and the competition being so strong.”