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Calgary, Canada - July 6, 2006 - While the Pengrowth Cup class, the opening international competition on the second day of the Spruce Meadows 'North American' will not go down in history as a classic, no one can deny the extremely solid and stylish performance that gave Richard Spooner and Cristallo a well deserved victory.

There were, in fact, some extremely ragged and ultimately forgettable performances from a few of the 28 riders who lined up at the start of this Table A 1m50 class with one jump-off. Fortunately, the devilish midday heat couldn't be blamed for many lack-luster performances in the first round because ever-blackening skies had overshadowed the early evening sun and brought cooler temperatures. Interestingly, given the extremely generous time limit for this 12-obstacle course, the prediction of three or four clear rounds from Technical Delegate Leopoldo Palacios, which some thought was somewhat pessimistic, proved to be 100% correct.

Beezie Madden was the first to join the clean-slate ranks with Integrity, and she was subsequently joined by two Mexicans, Alfredo Miguel Trevino with Acolino and former Olympian Antonio Maurer riding Odamildo. Norman Dello Joio and Quriel failed to qualify for the jump-off following four faults incurred at the first element of the double combination, an upright that had proved to be the bogey fence on the course, but there was no such problem for Richard Spooner and Cristallo who showed no signs of vulnerability from the outset.

In the jump-off, Madden was quick out of the blocks with the nine-year-old Quidam de Revel son, Integrity, and despite the resounding thump of a bouncing top rail at fence three, they steadily motored and crossed the finish line clear in 48.03 seconds. Trevino appeared similarly determined but his luck ran out when Acolino lowered a rail at the fence four upright. They also exceeded Madden's time for fourth place overall with 48.34 seconds.

The 40-year-old Maurer, who represented Mexico at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, obviously decided to opt for a steady third-place finish and steered an extremely cautious round with the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood Odamildo who upheld his expectations. Interestingly, the gelding is a paternal half brother to Madden's Integrity by the same sire.

And then there was Richard Spooner. From when he arrived at Spruce Meadows with Cristallo five weeks ago, this eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding has matured into a stylish show jumper who looks perfectly at home contesting a jump-off. There was little doubt that Richard wasn't looking to place anywhere other than first, and Cristallo was equally determined to cooperate and demonstrate his ever-improving aptitude over fences. It was an impressive and speedy display that even gave Richard sufficient time to check the gelding's stride going to the last, the fence four bogey in the first round. "Over the last five weeks he's turned into a tremendous competitor. You can see him go out there now and relax into it and not only be successful but look like he's a fish in water. Spruce Meadows can do that to a horse." Richard continued, "I can tell you that it takes all the strength and self-control I have to keep him out of the Queens Cup. He's only eight years old and has come from doing a mere 1m40, to 1m45, to 1m50 in five weeks, so to consider jumping him in a 1m60 might be somewhat less than wise."

Describing his partnership with Cristallo to date, Richard said, "I've had him since he was five years old, so he's been progressing with me over the past three years, but Spruce Meadows provides a venue that is ideal for a horse at this age." He added, "Each class is similar in field to a Grand Prix competition. At home you have one Grand Prix competition a week that is 1m60 and all the other classes are a bit blas=E9. So to have an opportunity for a horse to come up and do a dozen classes, not of a 1m60 height but a 1m60 feel and presence will bring him along and show whether a horse is a winner, a misser or a loser." Richard went on to say that Cristallo is definitely a winner and continued, "You have horses that maybe have everything else but might not be winners. He's proved himself here and at past competitions that he's a winner. If I can, 'touch wood', keep him sound and keep him brave he'll continue to be a winner."

Richard revealed that "When I tried him the first time the only reason I had the opportunity to try him was because no one else wanted to. He was like the horse in the Wild West Shows that nobody wants to ride except the boss," adding, "But I felt the first day I rode him that if he fights the jump as much as he fights me that he'll be exceptional, and," Richard smiled, "he fights the jump at least as much as he fights me. I'm very optimistic with this horse."

Flashing back to the great Robinson whom he was also riding at Cristallo's age, Richard admitted: "In some ways they are very similar, they are both incredibly headstrong and both have terrible mouths. I have one advantage in that I've already had three years with Cristallo's mouth but I purchased Robinson at the age of eight, so you could say I'm a little ahead." He admitted candidly, "I'm trying to correct some of the mistakes that I made with Robinson, so he has once again come through for me and given me an opportunity to not only have an exceptional past and present, but a future as well." Explaining his earlier mistakes, Richard said, "I tried to be a bit of a pacifist with Robinson and kind of beg him to be rideable. With this horse [Cristallo] I'm trying to correct the error of my ways and work on his rideability now while I'm doing 1m40 and 1m50 rather than try and do it when he's already doing 1m60. As nice a horse as Robinson is, if I'd known then what I know now I would have done him justice."

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