Ireland’s Daniel Coyle wins 1Million Dollar Atco Queen Elizabeth Cup at Spruce Meadows

A stunning performance from Derry’s Daniel Coyle and the 12-year-old gelding Incredible saw them claim victory in last night’s (Saturday) $1Million Atco Queen Elizabeth Cup at Spruce Meadows in Canada.

Irish riders have been in incredible form over the past few weeks at the Canadian venue, dominating the winners circle, with Coyle’s massive Atco Cup win – the final Grand Prix of the Spruce Meadows summer season, crowning the Irish domination.

After two demanding rounds of jumping, four combinations went forward to the third round jump-off where Coyle posted what proved the winning clear in 35.21 seconds. America’s Kyle King finished eight hundredths of a second behind Coyle to take runner-up spot aboard Kayenne Z (35.29), while Daniel Coyle’s older brother Jordan Coyle finished third with Chaccolino in 35.86.

A delighted Coyle explained how narrowly missing out on victory last weekend gave him an extra incentive and on how his horses improve at every level during the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournament.

“I wasn’t sure how today would go to be honest. He was second last week which probably gave me a wee bit more of a spur on to try and get it over the line. I like to come here for the summer because every horse gets a little better, even the horses at the top of the game. But not only that, we also have some six, some seven year-olds here, and, they are the future, so we have to bring them along as well.”

In the earlier Akita Drilling Cup 1m50, Jordan Coyle came out on top with For Gold, adding to a string of wins for the Derry rider in recent weeks, while there was also an Irish win in the Moore Equine Cup for Offaly’s Darragh Kenny aboard Colibelle Hero Z.