USA WINS IN BUENOS AIRES AND GETS QUALIFIED FOR THE 2004 SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE USA won the Nations Cup of CSIO Buenos Aires and secured their position in the 2004 Samsung Super League. In a tie with Switzerland for the first place of the Samsung Nations Cup leaderboard, USA sent a strong team composed of Norman Dello Joio on Peace Train, Chris Kappler on Primeur 59, Laura Linback on Remember Me 9 and Beezie Madden on Innocence to the Haras El Capricho located close to Buenos Aires. The Nations Cup started on Friday at 15:30 over a course designed by Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN). The US team, coached by chef d’equipe Frank Chapot, finished the two-round Nations’ Cup with a score of 12 faults to easily defeat the host country Argentina which placed second with 38 pts penalties. Brazil was third with 40 pts. Chris Kappler led the way with the only double clear round of the competition. Six countries participated in the Nations Cup of Buenos Aires: USA (1st), Argentina (2nd), Brazil (3rd), Chili, Uruguay and Belgium. The Samsung Super League is composed of eight events and reserved to the eight best teams of the world. Each year, the country finishing last in the Samsung Super League drops off and is replaced by the country finishing first in the Samsung Nations Cup Series. After the last event of the Samsung Super League season in Barcelona, Sweden was relegated and will be replaced by USA, which was just promoted for the 2004 season. According to the recent press release of the United States Equestrian Team, participation at the level of competition found in the Samsung Super League events is considered a critical component of the USET’s strategic plan for Olympic and international success. The nations qualified for the 2004 Samsung Super League are: France, Germany, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and USA.