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The final Grand Prix of the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments, the $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, promised crowds an exciting afternoon of top show jumping. Twenty-seven horse/rider combinations challenged the first round, 615m track designed by FEI Course Designer Santiago Varela (ESP). The top twelve placed riders from the first round then challenged a second track in hopes a combined score would leave them at the top or force a jump-off.
Amongst the top twelve returning for the second round were some of the week’s previous winners, Kyle King (USA), Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Jordan Coyle (IRL) - who won the AKITA Drilling Cup earlier in the day. They were joined by Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) who also finished on zero faults over the two rounds to create a four horse jump-off.
Daniel Coyle was ready for a big win and he made today the day. After two rounds of jumping, a jump-off was required to determine the winner. Jordan Coyle held the lead briefly with a clear jump off time of 35.86s but younger brother Daniel piloting the incredible, Incredible (Clinton x Heartbreaker), crossed the finish line clear in a time of 35.21s. Kyle King (USA) - who won the Friday evening competition - came close to topping Daniel’s time but finished second with a clear round time of 35.29s, counting on Zangersheide-mare, Kayenne Z (Kannan x Canezaro).
The stage was completed by Jordan Coyle aboard Chaccolino (Chacco-Blue x Heartbreaker). A rail in the jump-off kept Alrajhi off the podium. Aboard Ventago (Van Helsing) Alrajhi referred Sameh El Dahan with Oscar-A (Harley VDL) to the fifth spot.
“I like to come here for the summer because every horse gets a little better, even the horses at the top of the game. But not only that, we also have some six, some seven year-olds here, and, they are the future, so we have to bring them along as well.” - Daniel Coyle (IRL) on how his horses improve at every level during the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournament.
