Great Britain's Ben Maher and Exit Remo won Wednesday's CSIO5* 1.50m TELUS Cup at the 2023-edition of Spruce Meadows 'Masters'. Photo © Mackenzie Clark.
Edited press release from Spruce Meadows
The CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ 2023 has commenced and the CSIO5* 1.50m TELUS Cup wrapped up the competitions on Wednesday – the opening day.
Forty-five horse-and-rider combinations declared to start the competition and stepped onto the International Ring. The track was designed by Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) and counted 11 obstacles and 13 jumping efforts with a time allowed set to 66 seconds. Fifteen horse-and-rider combinations representing nine nations advanced to the jump-off.
Olympic gold medallist and current world number four Ben Maher (GBR) took two horses into the jump-off, bettering his chances of making it to the winner’s circle. Aboard Exit Remo (San Remo x Ferro), he laid down the fastest clear jump-off ride with a time of 39.98s, taking the win ahead of Denis Lynch (IRL) and Brooklyn Heights (Nabab de Reve x For Pleasure) in second in 40.82 and Conor Swail (IRL) in third in 41.09 aboard Theo 160 (Christian 25 x Calando IV). Maher also picked up the fourth place with Enjeu De Grisien (Toulon x Andiamo), while Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Coconet (Colman x Cornet's Stern) finished fifth.
“It's been some years that I’ve walked into that ring and it's just a different feeling, you know?," Maher said after his victory. "I jumped in arenas all over the world, but you walk through that tunnel and you have the incredible arena, the history – a lot of history here. When I was growing up, I was always dreaming that I could be able to come here and ride one day.”
Great Britain's Matthew Sampson and Fabrice DN won Wednesday's CSIO5* 1.45m Cardel Homes Cup at Spruce Meadows. Photo © Mackenzie Clark.
The CSIO5* 1.45m Cardel Homes Cup was the first event on the International Ring to start the tournament. Thirty-seven pairs representing twelve nations stepped through the iconic Clock Tower looking to post a fast and clear ride in the one round competition.
Great Britain’s Matthew Sampson and Fabrice DN (Gelha's VDL Emilion x Baloubet du Rouet) spent their summer at Spruce Meadows and the preparation paid off, as the pair galloped across the finish line clear, in a time of 61.27s which could not be caught. They took the win ahead of Santiago Lambre (BRA) and Chattanooga (Cornet's Prinz x Caprilli) in second and Kyle King (USA) aboard Sig Chiari (Cristallo II x Landadel) in third.
Then