March 26, 2013 – Wellington, Florida – Canadian Olympian David Marcus of Campbellville, ON, has won the North American World Cup League to earn an invitation to the 2013 World Cup Final to be held from April 24 to 28 in Goteborg, Sweden.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) released the official standings for the North American World Cup League on March 25.  Marcus topped the leaderboard with an average score of 73.975% earned riding Chrevi’s Capital, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Chrevi’s Cavallo x Weinberg).  His 2012 Canadian Olympic teammate Jacqueline Brooks ranked second with an average score of 72.600% riding D Niro.  The top two athletes in the standings are invited to contest the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final.

Despite earning an invitation to the prestigious annual event, Marcus has made the difficult decision, in consultation with his owner, Deborah Kinzinger Miculinic, and his coach, four-time Olympic team bronze medalist Robert Dover, to decline the invitation.

“Upon careful reflection and after many discussions with my trainer, Robert Dover, and owner, Deborah Miculinic, we have made the very difficult decision to step aside from the World Cup Final this year,” said Marcus, 32.  “Capital has had an incredible six months since the Olympic Games, winning at Devon and continuing a meteoric rise through the winter dressage season in Wellington.  His score for his recent win in the CDI-W Wellington Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle was just shy of 75 percent, proving that he is a legitimate contender for the world stage in the future.  We will continue to work towards representing Canada at the upcoming 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.”

Marcus added, “We wish Jacqueline and D Niro the very best and offer our heartfelt support during this very exciting time.”

Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital won the Grand Prix at CDI-W Dressage at Devon last fall before dominating the CDI-W Wellington Dressage in February, winning the Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 74.45%.  The pair also received an invitation to the prestigious CDI5* World Dressage Masters Palm Beach in January where they were the sole Canadian representatives to advance to the Grand Prix Freestyle, placing sixth overall.

Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital will next compete at the CDI5* Wellington from April 4 to 7 in Wellington, FL.

In addition to Chrevi’s Capital, Marcus has enjoyed great success this winter with Don Kontes, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding also owned by Kinzinger Miculinic.  Marcus and Don Kontes were recently named to the Canadian A team for the upcoming CDIO Wellington Dressage Nations’ Cup to be held from April 11-14 in Wellington, FL.

Marcus, who operates David Marcus Dressage outside Toronto in Campbellville, ON, is based in Wellington, FL, during the the winter season at Stillpoint Farm.  In addition to campaigning Chrevi’s Capital and Don Kontes at the grand prix level, Marcus is also developing the seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Betrina, for owner Kinzinger Miculinic.

For more information, please visit www.davidmarcusdressage.com.