Friday: Wachman Wins McNerney Cup
Tom Wachman (IRL) and Hawaii won Friday’s McNerney Cup. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
The McNerney Cup 1.45m kicked off FEI 5* competition Friday afternoon on the International Ring in the ‘North American’, presented by Rolex, at Spruce Meadows. Twenty-five athletes stepped through the iconic Clock Tower to challenge a very technical track designed by FEI course designer Santiago Varela (ESP).
Nine athletes produced fault-free rounds to advance to a thrilling jump-off that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. In the end, it was 21-year-old Tom Wachman’s (IRL) day. Aboard Hawaii, the pair delivered the fastest fault-free round of the jump-off, stopping the clock in 38.87 seconds to claim victory. Top Canadian in this class was Tiffany Foster aboard Artisan Farms and Kent Farrington’s eight-year-old gelding Steadfast, 5th, a horse she began riding in January..
McNerney Cup 1.45m
1. Tom Wachman (IRL) & Hawaii
2. Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) & Heartbeat W
3. Juan Manuel Luzardo (IRI) & Guizmo du Riou
4. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & VDL Mourinho
5. Tiffany Foster (CAN) & Steadfast
Full results from the McNerney Cup HERE.
Lucy Davis Kennedy (USA) and Ben 431 clinched the ATCO Cup 1.50m. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
Davis Kennedy (USA) Wins a Thrilling ATCO Cup 1.50m
The ATCO Cup 1.50m capped off competition on the International Ring on Friday. Under beautiful summer skies, 47 horse-and-rider combinations took on Varela’s track. Just 13 riders representing eight nations rose to the challenge and advanced to what would be an exciting jump-off.
The name of the game quickly became speed. As each rider entered the ring, the times continued to be shaved, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. Thanks to a daring inside turn to fence eight, Friday’s victory belonged to Lucy Davis Kennedy (USA) aboard Ben 431. The pair stopped the clock in a blistering 36.52 seconds, producing the fastest fault-free round of the afternoon and securing the top spot on the leaderboard.
“Sometimes you just kind of black out and you’re just riding in the moment, and the strategy was hopefully to go clear in the first round,” said Davis Kennedy. “Then I didn’t get to watch any of the riders before me in the jump-off, but luckily Conor Swail was at the back gate, and I just asked him, ‘What should I do? What are people doing?’ And he just said, ‘Run!’ So that’s what I did.”
ATCO Cup 1.50m
1. Lucy Davis Kennedy (USA) & Ben 431
2. Richard Vogel (GER) & Phenyo Van Het Keysersbox
3. Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) & Diaroubet
4. Mark Bluman (ISR) & Hastella
5. Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) & Victer Finn DH Z
Full results from the ATCO Cup HERE.
Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) and Ventago win the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup 1.60m – the only pair to have a double-clear effort. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
Saturday: Abdulrahman Alrajhi Claims ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The sun was shining over Spruce Meadows on Saturday during the ‘North American’, presented by Rolex, setting the stage for the day’s marquee event: the $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup 1.60m.
A maximum field of 40 athletes qualified for the prestigious competition, having earned their place earlier in the week during the Jayman BUILT Cup. The lineup featured an exceptional roster of talent, including defending champion Daniel Coyle (IRL), world #2 Richard Vogel (GER), world #9 Daniel Bluman (ISR), 2026 ‘Continental’ Grand Prix winner Katie Laurie (NZL), and RBC Grand Prix of Canada winner Mark Bluman (ISR). With so much star power assembled on the International Ring, all signs pointed to a spectacular competition.
Varela’s the first-round track tested every aspect of elite show jumping — speed, precision, and partnership. Following the opening round, only the top 12 athletes advanced to Round 2, returning in reverse order of merit. Only two athletes managed to produce fault-free performances in the opening round: Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) aboard the 13-year-old Ventago and Daniel Bluman (ISR) aboard the grey mare Corbie V.V. As they prepared for their decisive second round, they watched a number of competitors deliver clear rounds, but carry forward faults from the opening track.
Returning second-last to compete, Alrajhi once again rose to the occasion, producing the only double-clear performance of the day to secure victory in the prestigious ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Bluman had an unfortunate rail in the second round, opening the door for defending champion Daniel Coyle (IRL) to move into second place. With the time from the first round carrying over to the second, Bluman ultimately finished third to round out the podium. Canadian Kyle King improved on his 4-fault first round with a clear effort aboard the good mare Kayenne Z to place 4th.
Winning rider Alrajhi commented on how his horses have improved since coming to Spruce Meadows. “Honestly, I think Spruce is a totally different sport here. It’s not like another show. I was very impressed from how the horses improved after Spruce [last year]. It’s definitely struggling when we come here, and I was actually complaining about how tough it could become here, but you see the results after Spruce.”
ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup 1.60m
1. Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) & Ventago
2. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Farrel
3. Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Corbie V.V.
4. Kyle King (CAN) & Kayenne Z
5. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Kick On
Full results from the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup HERE.
Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Uruville Z win the Kubota Cup. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Uruville Z win the Kubota Cup. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
Sunday: Kubota Cup, Sun Life Derby
The Kubota Cup 1.50m Winning Round opened competition on the International Ring on Sunday. In this format, the top 10 athletes from the first round return for the Winning Round, competing in reverse order of merit. Scores from the opening round are not carried forward, giving all qualified athletes a clean slate heading into the deciding round.
Nine of the ten athletes advancing to the Winning Round produced fault-free performances, but it was veteran Daniel Coyle (IRL) who claimed victory aboard Uruville Z. The pair delivered a blistering performance in the Winning Round, crossing the finish line in a time of 48.90 seconds to secure the top spot on the podium. Coyle and Uruville Z finished a full second ahead of the runner-up combination of Kyle King (CAN) and Replay Touch V/D Stapelheyde, who stopped the clock in 49.91 seconds.
Kubota Cup 1.50m
1. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Urville Z
2. Kyle King (CAN) & Replay Touch V/D Stapelheyde
3. Conor Swail (IRL) & Casturano
4. Katie Laurier (NZL) & ZF Chacco Rio
5. Richard Vogel (GER) & Phenyo Van Hey Keysersbos
Full results from the Kubota Cup HERE.
Mark Bluman (ISR) and Claron CR win the Sun Life Derby. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
The fan-favourite Sun Life Derby brought the ‘North American’, presented by Rolex, to an exciting close on Sunday afternoon. Twenty-five horse-and-rider combinations took on the iconic derby course, a test spanning more than one kilometre and featuring 18 obstacles (24 efforts). Originally designed by FEI course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN), the track remains rooted in the original vision of legendary FEI course designer Pamela Carruthers (GBR) and features naturals obstacles such as the bank, Devil’s Dyke, dry ditch, double liver pools and open water.
Only Israel’s Mark Bluman (ISR) and Canada’s Kyle King (CAN) rose to the challenge, producing fault-free performances over the demanding derby course to force a head-to-head jump-off for the title.
Returning first, Bluman delivered a brilliant clear round aboard his mount Claron CR, stopping the clock in 37.96 seconds to set a formidable target. King answered with an impressive effort of his own riding Odysseus, but incurred four faults, crossing the finish line in 38.33 seconds to secure the runner-up position. Rounding out the podium was Germany’s Richard Vogel aboard Chember 3, who finished third after posting the fastest four-fault performance in the opening round.
“We’re just very thankful for the Southern family. It’s a pleasure, it’s an honour to be here [at Spruce Meadows]. And we’re very thankful for the sponsors and all the people that make these tournaments possible,” said Bluman on his successful inaugural summer season at Spruce Meadows.
Sun Life Derby
1. Mark Bluman (ISR) & Claron CR
2. Kyle King (CAN) & Odysseus
3. Richard Vogel (GER) & Chember 3
4. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Calippo 57
5. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Emerlon
Full results from the Sun Life Derby HERE.
~ with files from Spruce Meadows Media
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