Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

Saturday of the Spruce Meadows 'North American' CSI 5*, presented by Rolex, began with the 1.50m ATB Financial Cup Winning Round. Of the twenty-four horse-and-rider combinations that initially entered the competition, the top 10 returned for a second round to determine the placings. 

The course, designed by FEI course designer Peter Grant (CAN), featured 12 obstacles and 15 jumping efforts and had a time allowed of 81 seconds. Some of the top ten riders who moved on to the winning round included local Jim Ifko (CAN), former world no. one Kent Farrington (USA), and Spruce Meadows resident rider Brian Morton (CAN).

The winning round took place over a 390m track, with nine obstacles, and had a time allowed of 59 seconds. It was a  competitive round, and saw all riders really push themselves to deliver a clean round with a time that would be difficult for those who followed to beat. 

Conor Swail (IRL) and Count Me In (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes) laid down a good trip that was clean with a time of 52.40 seconds early on in the winning round, and managed to be untouchable as the remaining riders took to the ring to challenge his score. Katie Laurie (AUS) and Cera Caruso (Casall x Capone) finished second in a time of 52.69, while third place went to Matthew Sampson (GBR) and Geneve R (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Berlin) in 52.87. 

This was the second win for Swail and Count Me In this season at Spruce Meadows, after having also won the Cardel Homes Jumper Cup on the opening day of the Sprcue Meadows 'National' CSI 5*, presented by Rolex, two weeks ago.