July 9, 2023 
When it comes to million dollar classes, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar has won a few.
Ten years ago, at age 22, the then Stanford senior won the HITS Million in Saugerties, NY aboard Lordan. The gelding was only nine and the win was the non-official start of Nassar’s professional career.
In March 2018, he and his fleet footed mount added a second million dollar title to their resume when they captured the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix in Coachella, CA.
Almost exactly one year later, he became the second rider ever, behind American living legend Beezie Madden, to complete the HITS Million trifecta when he rode Lucifer V to victory in the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala in March 2019.
On Saturday at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB, the Egyptian Olympian added another million dollar Grand Prix to his resume, this one his biggest yet. The CSI5* ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup is the highlight event of the Summer Series and features two tough 1.60m rounds on one of the show jumping’s most iconic world stages.
Thirty-five combinations contested Santiago Varela’s 14-obstacle first round track before a packed stadium, including world no 8. Kent Farrington (USA) with Landon, world no. 10 Conor Swail (IRL) on Theo 160, world no. 18 Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Ivory TCS, and no. 25 Lillie Keenan (USA) on Fasther, along with Olympians Tiffany Foster (CAN), Mario Deslauriers (CAN), Santiago Lambre (BRA), Federico Fernandez (MEX) Sameh El Dahan (GBR), Katie Laurie (AUS) and more.
Twelve advanced to second round—seven clears and the five four faulters. Of those, four produced a double clear over the 10-obstacle track to force a jump off: Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP), Nassar (EGY), Deslauriers (CAN) and Captain Brian Cournane (USA).
A test of both fitness and nerve, Moya and Puma HS were first to return for the short course and put the pressure on with their third clear round of the day in 38.27 seconds.
Their lead was short lived, however. Nassar went next and used speed, scope and strategy to his advantage with his 14 year-old Holsteiner gelding Coronado.
“We actually swapped bridles for the jump off so that I can keep my control at speed,” Nassar explained. “And he was just unbelievable. He was looking for the jumps everywhere. He was coming with me on all my turns. He wasn’t fighting my hand. And that’s kind of the recipe for a quick jump off.”
The pair galloped through the finish line in a time of 35.58s, nearly three seconds faster than Moya.
“My horse is, I think, just naturally quicker. I know Sergio is an extremely fast rider, but his horse is a little slower moving. Spends a lot of time in the air,” said Nassar, noting that “everything just came up exactly the way I wanted” in the jump off.
Deslauriers and Cournane attempted to catch his time, but both had rails, handing the win to Nassar.
How did the 32-year-old new father feel about the win?
“A bit of a relief, honestly. The horses, they’ve been jumping great [during the Summer Series]. Things just haven’t really been going our way in the big classes. So it just feels amazing to finally put it all together, especially in the most important Grand Prix of the circuit.”
More impressive still: five weeks ago Nassar was recovering from an adductor tear that was making riding above 1.40m nearly impossible.
There was little evidence of it in the ring Saturday.
Nassar and Coronado have been partnered since 2021. The pair has contested 14 rounds at 1.60m prior to Saturday’s class, averaging 4.21 faults, according to Jumpr App. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is their second victory and first Grand Prix win at the height.
But it’s no surprise they did it in Calgary. Seven of their 10 podium finishes to date have been at Spruce Meadows.
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is now the fourth million dollar title for Nassar and the biggest win of his still early career.
But perhaps most telling was the response at the back gate.
A decade ago when Nassar won his first million dollar class, he was a relative unknown from the west coast and celebrated the win with his groom and the congratulations of a few riders. Now with 132 podium finishes to his name, including 55 victories (Jumpr App), Nassar is a household name in show jumping and was met with a hero’s welcome after Saturday’s win.
But like that win in 2013, he still celebrated with his groom and found a quiet moment to thank his horse.
