The respected horseman was a member of the Canadian Team and also its chef d'équipe, as well as a horse owner and inventor.

"She is exceptionally careful and is really fast, so she is my kind of horse," said the American rider after topping a large field of 36.

The Calgary native rode Diazella to victory to kick off the 2022 Blenheim EquiSports season in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

The German rider edged the Irishman Shane Sweetnam with Alejandro to take the winners spoils of the €300,000 grand prix on the beach.

Mark and Tara Rein's Rome Gladiators team of Nina Mallevaey, Zoe Conter and Shane Breen finished in third spot.

Darragh Kenny and Ben Maher topped the Round 1 field at the spectacular oceanside venue for team owner Jennifer Gates.

The show has been elevated to a CSI5* and will also feature national hunter/jumper championships and over $1 million in prize money.

The victory came aboard Chaplin, “the horse of my heart!” while Harrie Smolders and Jens Fredricson complete the podium.

Friday's win aboard Contagious puts the American at the top of the leaderboard going into Sunday’s World Cup title decider.

A day-one thriller of a class saw the Swiss rider win aboard Chaplin; Sandy Lupton's Count Me In was third for Conor Swail (IRL).