Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

Over 35 entries competed in the CSIO5* 1.60m CANA Cup to round out Thursday of the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' 2022. It was a competitive field filled with Olympians, World Champions and some familiar 5* Grand Prix champions from the 2022 Spruce Meadows Summer Series. The challenging course was 510m in length, over 12 obstacles and 15 jumping efforts and riders had to be through the finish line in 77seconds or less. Six of the horses and riders passed all the tests on course set by FEI course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN), and advanced to the jump-off. 

The 4th ranked rider in the world, Conor Swail (IRL), is no stranger to Spruce Meadows and aboard his partner Count Me In (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes), took out all of the stops. The pair were the only ones to leave all the fences up in the jump-off and sailed through the finish line in a time of 43.46s. Daniel Deusser (GER) on Bingo Ste Hermelle (Number One d'Iso Un Prince x Diamant de Semilly) took the runner-up position, while Marc Dilasser (FRA) on Chamann Has (Mylord Carthago x Socrate De Chivre) placed third, Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) on Le Blue Diamond vt Ruytershof (Plot Blue x Diamant de Semilly) fourth and Kevin Staut (FRA) on Visconti du Telman (Toulon x Dollar Du Murier) fifth. 

“Today is a very important day for me," Swail said. "It’s important to get things done early and to get qualified, then have a couple of days to relax and think about it ahead of Sunday. I’ll give them another round tomorrow, but it’s important to get those rounds in and getting the horses comfortable and giving them a good rest before we have to pull out all of the stops on Sunday.”

Swail is now qualified for the Sunday's CP 'International', presented by Rolex – one of few Spruce Meadows victories that have eluded him. 

The CSIO5* 1.50m ATCO Cup kicked competition off for those horses competing in the CSIO5* portion of the 'Masters' Tournament. Over 60 horse-and-rider-combinations made their way through the Clock Tower on the International Ring hoping to use their result from this competition to qualify for Sunday's Grand Prix, the CP 'International', presented by Rolex.

Spruce Meadows suspended competition upon receiving news out of Buckingham Palace of the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Following a brief citation honouring Her Majesty, there was a moment of silence and the flags of Canada and the Commonwealth were lowered to half mast throughout the property. The passing of Her Majesty also meant that the Household Cavalry, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Band of the Household Cavalry, all participating at this year’s ‘Masters’, were recalled immediately to Great Britain for State duties.

In round one, fourteen pairs passed all the tests laid out by FEI course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN), advancing to the jump-off. Twelve nations were represented in the jump-off, but the victory belonged to Spruce Meadow's veteran and former world no. one Kent Farrington (USA). Riding the chestnut gelding Creedance (Lord Z x Notaris), the pair crossed the finish ling in a time of 43.94s and could not be caught.

Sanne Thijssen (NED) on Con Quidam RB (Quinar Z x Cardino 5) took the runner-up position, while Matthew Sampson (GBR) on Ebolensky (Clinton x Heartbreaker) placed third, Max Kühner (AUT) on Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue x unknown) fourth and Jur Vrieling (NED) on Fiumicino van de Kalevallei (Plot Blue x Nabab de Reve) fifth.