Top Placing for Blue Atlantic’s Crispo in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead
On a course that proved more challenging than many competitors expected, the crème de la crème rose to the top during the famed Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Longines Royal International Horse Show CSIO5* on July 30, 2022.
At the end of the day, Hickstead-based Shane Breen (IRL) picked up his third career win in the national-level Queen Elizabeth II Cup aboard Haya. Of the 28 competitors, only three completed course designer Kelvin Bywater’s 1.50m track without error to qualify for the jump-off. Of those with four faults, Great Britain’s Angie Thompson and Blue Atlantic’s Crispo put in an impressive performance, finishing on 81.70 seconds to take sixth place.
Commentators praised the then-13-year-old gelding’s “lovely balance,” noting that his way of going—with his head up in front and a strong uphill canter—was particularly pleasing. According to Jumpr App, Crispo has earned more than €25,000 over the course of his career, including seven podium finishes up to the 1.45m level. Impressively, Crispo jumps clear at 1.40m 61% of the time.
Crispo began his career in Germany competing in Young Horse classes with Maurice Tebbel (GER) and Nicola Pohl (GER). Under David Will (GER), Crispo successfully campaigned up to the five-star level, going on to represent Brazil with rider João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima before being sold to Great Britain’s Team Harmony in 2019. After his successful summer under Angie Thompson, Crispo moved on to Faleh Suwead Al Ajami of Qatar, where he is currently having a standout season, with top placings in multiple 1.45-1.50m classes.
Crispo is the son of Contendro I, who’s offspring includes Christian Ahlmann’s (GER) Codex One, Constantin B, and Callahan—all of which excelled at the top level of the sport. As a testament to his breeding, Crispo’s half-sister, Acorada K, by his dam I-Cleopatra F, also competes at the 1.45m level.
