The CSIO5* 1.60m 2,215,000.00 USD CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex – the third Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year – at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' saw 38 horse-and-rider combinations take on the first-round track set by Leopoldo Palacios. As pathfinders, Brazil's Yuri Mansur and QH Alfons Santo Antonio were the first to enter under the iconic Clock Tower and posted a clear to kick off the competition in the best possible way. However, only four other pairs could match their performance, while three horse-and-rider combinations were caught out by the time allowed.
With these photos, we look back at the action in the first round of the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex.
Above, Ireland's Darragh Kenny thanks VDL Cartello after a clear round.
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Yuri Mansur and QH Alfons Santo Antonio were first to go in the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex...
... and also the first pair to celebrate a clear round.
Olivier Robert and Erynn Ballard made sure to have front row seats as the action got underway.
Jörne Sprehe and Sprehe Hot Easy were second to go and delivered a great round on four faults. However, they were not fast enough to make it through to round two.
A great round from Colombia's Juan Manuel Gallego and Fee des Sequoias Z saw the pair finish with only one time penalty, and a ticket for the second round which was open to the top 12.
Tim Gredley and Medoc de Toxandria ended the first round on one time penalty and were one out of three horse-and-rider combinations with time faults that qualified for the second round.
Pius Schwizer and Vancouver de Lanlore's result of eight faults left them out of the second round.
Hilary Scott and Oaks Milky Way finished the course with six faults, here jumping the Canada planks.
Richard Vogel and United Touch S recorded four faults in the first round...
...despite United Touch S jumping in his trademark spectacular way.
Donald Whitaker's beautiful Millfield Colette jumped incredible...
...but was caught out by the difficult combination at 12ab to finish on four faults.
Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM delivered a picture perfect first round...
...and moved on to the second round on a clean sheet.
Daniel Coyle and Legacy – the new leader of the WBFSH ranking – delivered a fantastic round and were clear all the way to the last fence....
...leaving them on four faults, and outside the twelve that made the cut for round two.
Scott Brash – the only rider ever to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – and his Olympic team gold medalist Hello Jefferson ran into trouble at the triple bar at no. 10. Their second attempt went well though, and they finished the round with additional time faults ticking in to end on a score of 33 penalties.
The 2021 CPKC 'International' Grand Prix-winners Steve Guerdat and Venard de Cerisy finished the first round on an unlucky time penalty, and made the cut for the second round.
Darragh Kenny looked very pleased with the 17-year-old VDL Cartello after a clear in the first round.
Tiffany Foster and Figor ended the first round with a total of five faults.
Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly were one out of five clear pairs in the first round.
Katie Laurie and Django II finished the first round with four faults in 77.90 seconds, a time that passed them on to the second round.
The joy of making it through!
It was not to be for Rolex Grand Slam live contender Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria, who finished on eight faults.
David O'Brien and El Balou OLD's campaign ended after a misunderstanding in the huge CPKC triple combination.
Lillie Keenan and Argan de Beliard were one of many four-faulters and unfortunately Keenan's time was not fast enough for a place among the twelve moving on to the second round.
Another duo that didn't make the cut with their four faults was Armando Trapote and his powerball Tornado VS.
However, they were met with treats and standing ovations after finishing.
Max Kühner and Electric Blue P jumped their way to the second round with a speedy four-fault performance.
Cian O'Connor checking out the score board when jumping the last fence – four faults in a time of 79.75 didn't give him and Fermoy a place in the second round though.
Sameh El Dahan and WKD Toronto jumping out of the combination at no. 12ab, which shattered many hopes of a clear round.
Erynn Ballard's De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa made it extra exciting on the wall at no. 2...
...but managed to clear it. Eventually, the couple finished 16th on four faults.
One of the riders that decided to retire was France's Olivier Robert with Iglesias D.V.
A splash in the open water for Matthew Sampson and Daniel...
...was all that kept them out of round two.
Sampson seemed over the moon with Daniel's performance.
Not what we are used to... McLain Ward and Ilex...
...parted ways on the first fence.
Four faults and 0,05 seconds kept Harrie Smolders and Uricas v/d Kattevennen out of the second round.
Then