Spruce Meadow’s - Friday

Calgary, AB – McLain Ward (USA) picked his first competition of the 2009 Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament wisely, the $100,000 EnCana Cup. It was his mare Sapphire that carried the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist American to victory on the Evening of the Horse at Spruce Meadows.

The 550 metre course featured 16 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 83 seconds. Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) tested the 41 entries over tough combinations, turns and distances.

Only three were able to master the first round course to move onto the jump-of round. The first to go in the jump-off was Ashlee Bond of the United States. Bond was riding GZS Cassira Z her 12 year-old Zangersheide mare. The round looked perfect for the pair who was putting together a clear round, it was the final fence that cost Bond a double clear.

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Piergiorgio Bucci (ITA) was the next to jump-off with Da Zara Contact BZ, an 11 year-old Zangersheide gelding. Bucci was much slower than Bond coming up to the last fence but a clear round would do it for the Italian. Again it was the last fence that cost Bucci victory in the EnCana Cup.

McLain Ward was the last to go in the jump-off was able to learn from the mistakes of the two before him. “Both of them had to think about time, I took my time a little bit and made sure I jumped clear,” said Ward. “I had the luxury of going last,” added the American.

That luxury paid off as Ward took his time over the final fence, clearing the jump-off round to earn a victory in the 2009 EnCana Cup. Ward’s next stop with Sapphire will be Sunday’s $1 million CN International, “I hope to finish with a bang on Sunday,” said tonight’s champion.

EnCana Cup top 10

1. McLain Ward, USA, Sapphire

2. Ashlee Bond, USA, GZS Cassira Z

3. Piergiorgio Bucci, ITA, Da Zara Contact BZ

4. Michel Robert, FRA, Kellemoi De Pepita

5. Cameron Hanley, IRL, VDL Rocksina HD

6. Peter Charles, GBR, Murkas Pom D’Ami

7. Guy Thomas, NZL, Peterbilt

8. Pius Schwizer, SUI, BMC Loving Dancer

9. Harrie Smolders, NED, Exquis Oliver Q

10. Daniel Deusser, GER, Hooligan De Rosyl

There were five rounds of competition, a final jump height of 2.04 metres and one winner in tonight’s ATCO Electric Six-Bar. Peter Charles (GBR) and Murkas Rubert R cleared that final fence to the cheers of the record Friday crowd of 47,324 at Spruce Meadows to win the ATCO Electric Six Bar.

Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios made it through four rounds of competition but after a stop in the fourth round decided not to continue. It was Ashlee Bond of the United States and Peter Charles who jumped their way into the fifth round.

Bond took the option of voluntarily retiring, hoping that Charles might too and she would be able to tie for first place. The veteran Charles knew his horse has the ability to win this event, “He’s jumped three of these and won three,” said Charles. “He won in Palm Beach and Dublin before tonight,” added the Champion of the ATCO Electric Six-Bar.

ATCO Electric Six-Bar top 10

1. Peter Charles, GBR, Murkas Rubert R

2. Ashlee Bond, USA, Chiva Z

3. Pablo Barrios, VEN, Sinatra

4. Karen Cudmore, CAN, Ulano

5. Alvaro De Miranda, BRA, AD Norson

5. Guy Thomas, NZL, Carino

7. Ben Maher, GBR, Quainton Quirifino Z

8. Cara Raether, USA, Lyonell

9. Lauren Hough, USA, Quick Study

10. Theo Muff, SUI, Peter Pan II

10. Jonathan Asselin, CAN, Coolio

10. Marshall Whyte, CAN, Quinlan

International Ring competition begins tomorrow with the BP Cup at 11:00 am and followed by the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup. The Spruce Meadows $2 million “Masters” Tournament continues until Sunday.