The win came for Etalon, King's 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Otangelo x Concorde) owned by Christine Maclean and Brent Therrien. The gelding's massive stride and will to win allowed King to best 20 jump-off contenders and start the week off with a victory.

Ashley Bond (ISR) and Donatello 141 claimed second, while her Helios teammate Simon McCarthy (IRL) found himself on the podium for the second time during the opening day of competition. He and Gotcha took third.

"Etalon has been jumping in great form so I knew he would be ready for this class. The [Major League] season has been a little rusty to this point. I’m very competitive and I have been very hungry. This level is a step up from national levels where I’m confident in almost any class I go in. These riders bring out top horse after top horse and ride incredibly. I’ll take any victory I can get here and keep building confidence."

"Etalon is a very special horse. He’s my longest partner at this point in my string and he came from nowhere. He's one of those horses that is always so rewarding. He started as a hunter then a sales horse and is now one of my steady campaigners and a great partner."