Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Andrew Kocher (USA) and Carollo won the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup CSI 5* yesterday during the ‘North American’ at Spruce Meadows, Province of Alberta, Canada.

The ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1.60m) is the Grand Prix of the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ tournament, presented by Rolex. Forty horse/rider combinations had qualified earlier in the week to compete in the prestigious class. The field of competition was full of top international athletes looking to have their names added to the historic trophy.

The competition was run over two rounds, the top twelve placed horses after round one advance to round two. If there is a tie for faults after the two rounds, there is a jump-off. The tracks for the competition were designed by FEI Course Designer Santiago Varela (ESP), who was looking to test the riders in multiple ways.

Round one was a 570m track consisting of 13 obstacles (16 efforts) that riders attempted to jump clear under the time allowed of 86 seconds. Only four riders were able to deliver clear rounds and carry no penalties into round two.

The round two track tested riders over 490m of track and 11 obstacles (14 efforts) including the challenging double liver pools. Prior to Hardin Towell (USA) and Joli Jumper, the first of the round one clears, John Perez (COL) and Desperado (Argentinus x Calypso) sat atop the leader board sitting on a combined score of two penalty-points.

Perez’s lead did not last long with Towell finishing on only one time fault picked up in the second round. Andrew Kocher (USA) and Carollo quickly followed, also finishing on one time-penalty, sending both combinations to a jump off.

Hardin Towell (USA) and the Oakmont Stables’ 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Action Breaker) were first ones in for the jump off and would finish with four penalty-points and a time of 47.09 seconds.

All Kocher had to do was leave all the fences up. Aboard the bay gelding Carollo (Chacco-Blue x La Piko), Kocher did just that. The pair crossed the finish line with a time of 45.11 seconds,  claiming the 2019 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup CSI 5*.

Winner’s Circle 

“I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s a dream come true, I don’t even know how it happened. This is the biggest (victory) I have ever had” – Andrew Kocher (USA) on winning the 2019 Spruce Meadows ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Results – $500,000 Queen Elizabeth Cup CSI 5*

Place / Rider / Country / Horse / R1 Penalties / R1 Time /  R2 Penalties / R2 Time / Jump-off Penalties / Time

1. Andrew Kocher (USA) & Carollo – 0 / 84.27 – 1 / 77.53 – 0 / 45.11

2. Hardin Towell (USA) & Joli Jumper – 0 / 85.03 – 1 / 75.89 – 4 / 47.09

3. John Perez Bohm (COL) & Desperado DN – 1 / 87.77 – 1 / 77.58

4. Pieter Clemens (BEL) & Cuidam – 4 / 81.41 – 0 / 73.62

5. McLain Ward (USA) & HH Azur – 0 / 81.77 – 4 / 70.94

6. Beezie Madden (USA) & Darry Lou – 0 / 82.47 – 4 / 73.87

7. Mario Deslauriers (CAN) & Bardolina 2 – 4 / 81.75 – 1 / 74.91

8. Jennifer Gates (USA) & Capital Colnardo – 4 / 83.44 – 1 / 75.30

9. Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) & H5 Just the Music – 4 / 83.58 – 1 / 75.34

10. Sloane Coles (USA) & Chippendale’s Boy DZ – 1 / 87.05 – 9 / 77.99

11. Uma O’Neill (NZL) & Clockwise of Greenhill Z – 4 / 84.25 – 21 / 74.50

12. Scott Keach (AUS) & Fedor – 4 / 83.24 – Eliminated

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release from Spruce Meadows Media

Photo: © Spruce Meadows Media / Mike Sturk