ABDULRAHMAN ALRAJHI CAPTURES PRESTIGIOUS $1,000,000 ATCO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP AT SPRUCE MEADOWS

Spruce Meadows 'North American', presented by Rolex, set the stage for the event's marquee event: the $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup 1.60m.

A maximum field of 40 athletes qualified for the prestigious competition, having earned their place earlier in the week during the Jayman BUILT Cup. The line-up featured an exceptional roster of talent, including defending champion Daniel Coyle (IRL), World No. 2 Richard Vogel (GER), and 2026 'Continental' Grand Prix winner Katie Laurie (NZL). With so much star power assembled on the International Ring, all signs pointed to a spectacular competition.

All 40 qualified athletes took on the opening-round track, a demanding 565-metre course featuring 14 obstacles (17 efforts), all to be completed within the allotted time of 85 seconds. Designed by FEI Course Designer Santiago Varela (ESP), the first-round track tested every aspect of elite show jumping—speed, precision, and partnership.

Following the opening round, only the top 12 athletes advanced to Round 2, returning in reverse order of merit to battle for the prestigious ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup title.

Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) riding 13-year-old Ventago cleared his first round. As they prepared for the decisive second round, they watched a number of competitors deliver clear rounds but carry forward faults from the opening track.

Returning second-last to compete, Alrajhi once again rose to the occasion, producing the only double-clear performance of the day to secure victory in the prestigious ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

“Honestly, I think Spruce is a totally different sport here. It's not like another show, honestly. And I was very impressed from how the horses improved after Spruce, and this actually happened last year. It's definitely struggling when we come here, and I was actually complaining about how tough it could become here in Spruce. But you see the results after Spruce.” - Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) on how his horses have improved since coming to Spruce Meadows.

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Photo by Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk

Release edited by HT

Full results here