ESI Ali gifts Egypt’s Nayel Nassar a stunning victory in Friday's ATCO Cup 1.50m, ahead of Saturday's Grand Prix, where 2023 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Nassar will defend his title. Photo © Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk.
Edited press release from Spruce Meadows
At the Spruce Meadows 'North American', Nayel Nassar (EGY) told how he will confidently stride into Saturday’s ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup Grand Prix with Capital Night Star (Toulon x Darco) to defend his 2023-title, following a win in Friday's CSI5* ATCO Cup 1.50m with the 9-year-old gelding ESI Ali (Stakkato Gold x Tygo).
Speaking at the Spruce Meadows media press conference, Nassar, 33, said: “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow [Saturday 6 July]."
“Winning breeds confidence. I’m obviously going on a different horse tomorrow, but, still, to go out in the ring like that tonight, and be able to pull out a result the day before the Grand Prix is definitely confidence boosting."
“I’m definitely very excited to defend my title.”
Friday’s ATCO Cup 1.50m victory echoes another win last month in the ‘National’, presented by Rolex, where Nassar and Linguini de La Pomme (Marius Claudius x Tinka's Boy) took the ATCO Cup 1.45m.
Conor Swail (IRL) and My Lady Lavista (Mylord Carthago*HN x Levisto) finished second in Friday's ATCO Cup, 1.51 seconds behind Nassar. Manuel Gonzalez Dufrane (MEX) and Martialis (Nabab de Reve x Lord Z) took third, two seconds behind the winning time.
In the CSI5* 1.45m McNerney Cup, it was Patricio Pasquel (MEX) and Gazelle SM (Orient Express HDC x Caritano Z) that took the top honours.
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