Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

The CSIO5* 1.60m Tourmaline Oil Cup started Friday’s WestJet Evening of the Horse at the 2023-edition of the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ in Calgary, Canada. Twenty-nine horse-and-rider-combinations rode through the Clock Tower, for some their last chance to qualify for the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex on Sunday. 

The challenging track was designed by Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) and only four jumped clean first rounds to qualify for the jump-off. Three of the four challenged the jump-off track with Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) electing to save his horse Contago (Cornet Obolensky x Cassini II) for another day. Evelina Tovek (SWE) and Winnetou de la Hamente Z (Winningmood x Socrate de Chivre), Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Commissar Pezi (Commissario x Böckmann’s Lord Pezi) as well as Mario Deslauriers (CAN) and Bardolina 2 (Clarimo x Landos) stepped through the Clock Tower for a second time, all hoping to make it to the winner’s circle.  

Deslauriers and Tovek tried their best, but could not beat current world number five Fuchs, who would secure his second victory of the week with a time of 38.51, followed by Tovek in second in 40.30 and Deslauriers in third with four faults in 40.43.