Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

A field of top international athletes stepped through the iconic Spruce Meadows Clock Tower onto the International Ring for the PwC Cup 1.55m on Thursday, as CSI5* competition got underway at the Spruce Meadows 'National'.

Thirty-eight horse-and-rider combinations representing seven countries were tested over 12 obstacles with a tight time allowed of 72 seconds set by FEI course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio (USA) in the first round of competition. Ten jumped clear and returned for the jump-off against the clock.

The jump-off belonged to Patricio Pasquel (MEX) who guided his veteran partner Babel (Billy Du Lys x High Flyer) to the fastest clear in the jump-off after stopping the clock at 38.73 seconds, to defeat Nayel Nassar (EGY) and El Conde (Filou de Muze x Final Shot) by 1.28 seconds. Riding Emerson (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Berlin), Mario Deslauriers (CAN) took the third place with a time of 41.36 in the jump-off, followed by Erynn Ballard (CAN) on Gakhir (Spartacus x Indorado) in fourth and Kent Farrington (USA) on Gazelle (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro) in fifth. 

Pasquel was ecstatic to return to the winners circle at Spruce Meadows with his 15-year-old gelding. "We (Team Mexico) are using the 'National' Tournament to select our team for the World Equestrian Games," Pasquel said. "There is no better place to prepare your horses for a championship."

The top five riders from the PwC Cup have qualified for the RBC Grand Prix of Canada, presented by Rolex on Saturday.