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Brazilian Double Win on Opening Night of the Spruce Meadows "North American"

July 6, 2005

Bernardo Alves (BRA) and Fort Neuville de Joter. Photo Credit: Split Seconds Photography

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta --- Bernardo Alves of Brazil has had a great Summer Tour to date at Spruce Meadows and starts off the final week by winning both featured events in the International Ring - the Molson Cup (1.50m) and the Enerflex Cup (1.60m).

Seven of 11 went double clear in the Enerflex Cup with Alves and Fort Neuville de Joter topping the field with a jump-off time of 37.23. Fellow Brazilian and Athens Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa aboard Richmont Park were second, finishing in a time of 37.53. Californian Richard Spooner and Hilton Flight were third.

During the first two weeks of the Tour, Alves won an event early on during the "National" Tournament followed by a very exciting triumph on the last day of the "Continental" in the CN Performance World Cup. Alves and Canturo squeaked past Great Britain's Nick Skelton by only one hundredth of a second for the win.

Alves will be looking for a repeat win this Saturday in the prestigious ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Today's earlier event in the International Ring, the Molson Cup (1.50m), saw 73 horses through the one round competition. Traditionally this event on opening day will see a lot of riders drop their Section II or 1.60m horses down a division to introduce them back to the International Ring heading into the remainder of the week's competition.

It was a one-two win for Brazil again, but this time both red and blue ribbons were collected by Alves. He entered the ring third in the Order of Go aboard Corino 7, posting a time of 62.60. It was only himself on a second mount, Concept 2, that was able to beat the time and then held on through 52 horse/rider combinations for first place in the Molson Cup.

Richard Spooner picked up another third place ribbon, this time aboard Bradford. Top Canadian in this event was Ian Millar in 6th place with Aftershock.

The "North American" Tournament is the final week of the Summer Tour at Spruce Meadows. Competition will continue tomorrow through the weekend with the exciting Chrysler Classic Derby and ultimate crowning of the Spruce Meadows North American ChampionT Sunday afternoon.

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