Lexington, KY – Somehow Sapphire keeps getting better. Already the owner of two Olympic Team Gold medals from 2004 and 2008 with rider McLain Ward, the 14-year-old Belgian mare continues to add

accolades to her sparkling resume across the globe.

This time it was the CN International at the Spruce Meadows Masters. One of the most prestigious (and richest – worth $1m CAD) Grand Prixes on the planet, Sapphire and Ward were one of only two second round clears over Leopoldo Palacios’ tough track, which proved too testing for the other 43 horses in the field. This forced a jump off with reigning Individual Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze and Hickstead (CAN).

Sapphire prevailed by less than 3/100ths of a second in a jump-off for the ages.

This win ran her current Grand Prix streak to three and further wrote her place in history as one of the legendary jumpers in the game.

Owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, the hugely popular mare always delivers when the stakes are the highest. She made the trip from her home at Ward’s farm in Brewster, NY to Calgary worth every mile, picking up $325,000 CAD for her unbelievable effort.

ENDS

For complete results, including details on the US Team’s runner-up finish in the Nations Cup, please visit: http://www.sprucemeadows.com/masters.htm

For more information, please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected].