For the momentous win, Ward topped a U.S. showdown over Olympic teammate Beezie Madden (USA) and her top mount, Cortes ‘C’. Todd Minikus and Babalou 41 completed a U.S. trifecta in the top three as the nation celebrated its Independence Day. Earlier in the afternoon, Calgary’s own Kara Chad won the $85,000 TD Cup aboard Star la Tuiliere.
Course designer Santiago Varela (ESP) set a difficult track for the competitors in Saturday’s $400,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The competition took place over two rounds with a jump-off if necessary. The first round was a speed round against the clock, which saw 49 entries in total. The top twelve competitors from the first round then returned for round two in reverse order of penalties. In the end, USA’s Beezie Madden and McLain Ward were the only competitors able to jump clear in both rounds, necessitating a competitive jump-off to break their tie.
It was a storybook ending for Ward, who earned his first win in the prestigious competition with three perfect rounds to take home the winner’s share of $132,000. Madden and Cortes ‘C’ had trouble in the jump-off and ended up retiring, but still took home a substantial $80,000 check for their second place finish.
“It means a lot,” Ward said of his victory. “It is a competition that I have always really coveted and always wanted to win. I think I have come here with a lot of very good entries, including Sapphire, over the years and taken a good shot. I am very excited about this horse in my life, so to see her step up in her first major grand prix is great. It is an incredible horse.”
