SPRUCE Meadows veteran Conor Swail followed up Ireland’s Nations Cup victory on Saturday by pulling out all the stops aboard Gamble to take victory in the 1.50m Enbridge Cup.

The pair jumped double clear with the fastest jump-off time, crossing the finish line in a time of 45.03 on what was the final day of the 2023 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’.

The track featured 13 obstacles (16 jumping efforts) that had to be completed and cleared in 84 seconds to qualify for the jump-off. It was a challenging track but five riders passed the test and advanced to the jump-off.

Gamble, a 12-year-old gelding by Vingino out of Babelle (Indoctro) flew around almost five seconds faster than second placed John Whitaker aboard Sharid (Toulon x Vancouleurs) who were clear in 50.95.

Third place went to Harrie Smolders of The Netherlands and Bingo du Parc (Mylord Carthago x Diamant de Semilly) who had four faults, and Ireland’s Daniel Coyle was fourth as fastest of the eight-faulters with Quintin (Quaprice du Bois Margot x Emilion).

Grand Prix

Also rounding off a great first appearance at Spruce Meadows was Swail’s Nations Cup teammate Bertram Allen who rounded out the podium placings in the Grand Prix later the same afternoon.

Fans packed the grounds for this feature event, the $3,000,000 two-round CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, which forms part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

In total, 34 combinations from 12 nations, including five of the top 10 in the world, took on the typically massive course designed by Leopoldo Palacios.

The top 12 combinations went forward to the second round, with Allen one of just five riders who were on a zero score from round one. Allen and the 11-year-old gelding Pacino Amiro (Pacino x NC Amiro), bred by Simon Scott in Co Donegal, lowered a single rail when last to go in the second round, setting the stage for a tense jump-off between Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs.

Foster and Figor (VDL Groep Zagreb x Indoctro) were first into the ring but had an unfortunate rail in the combination so all Fuchs had to do was go clear.

Proving why he is ranked fifth in the world, Fuchs entered the ring on the striking grey Leone Jei (Baltic VDL x VDL Corland) and went around with nothing to add, clearing the final fence with a memorable mid-air celebration.

Switzerland's Martin Fuchs won the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, with Leone Jei at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows Masters \ Spruce Meadows

Perfect week

Speaking of his victory, Fuchs commented: “It is unbelievable to win here at this historical show – I have always wanted to win this class. My Dad competed here a number of times and never won. He told me that I would have to win for us both and I am so pleased that I have been able to do so!

“Leone Jei is incredible – he is such an amazing horse with so much talent. I have always thought he was the horse that could win this Grand Prix. It has been a perfect end to a perfect week. I haven’t had a single fault on any of my horses this week – it has been a dream come true.”

Spruce Meadows success also came on Saturday for Darragh Kenny who was second in the CSIO5* 1.50m class with Irwin (Kannan x Paladin des Ifs) to Britain’s Ben Maher who finished clear in 54.7 with Enjeu de Grisien (Toulon x Andiamo Z) to Kenny’s 54.76.