On a Sunday afternoon complete with surprises, fortunes favored Beat Mändli (SUI) in the 2026 edition of the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ CSI5*-W Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen, as he took the win aboard Qoachella, the only double-clear performance of the day.
As the final class of the 2026 season was set to get underway, riders and spectators alike knew Alan Wade (IRL) had set a challenging track for the 37 entries, among them the reigning FEI World Cup™ Finals champion Kent Farrington (USA), 2024 Olympic gold medalist Christian Kukuk (GER), and two-time winners of this very class, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz.
Under a tight time allowed and facing countless technical elements across the course, only five pairs managed to jump clear, with both Farrington, aboard Greya, and McLain Ward (USA), with Jordan Molga M, finishing .07 seconds over the time allowed, tying for sixth place and missing their shot at the jump-off.
Mändli and Qoachella were the first to contend the short course, and the 2007 FEI World Cup™ Finals champion knew his time would likely be caught, so an efficient double-clear was his best path forward. Jumping in 38.03 seconds, he kept all the rails up and waited to see where he would finish. As riders tried to improve upon his time, mistakes happened, rails fell, and Mändli emerged as the winner.
“I was definitely not thinking about the win today,” Mändli reflected. “I wanted a good round and to keep my horse confident. She was incredible today. The jump-off turned out totally crazy so sometimes it works out and it did today for me, my horse, and my whole team. I’m obviously very happy.”
Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, the pair spectators might have picked as the class favorite, ended up bringing a rail down in a time of 35.61 seconds, which would have more than sealed the win had they kept all the rails up. They had to settle for second, but still achieved a podium finish.
“‘Gizmo’ jumped great today in both rounds,” Sweetnam reflected. “It was a difficult course and the time was a factor. I think [Alan Wade] had the right number of clears. In the jump-off I probably got greedy in the last line and paid the price but the horse jumped great. It would’ve been nice to get the win but it’s been a good class for me and the horse. Hopefully we’ll be back to try to win next year.”
Kukuk also piloted a newer ride, and his jump-off ended similarly, with one rail down in a slightly slower time for third place aboard 10-year-old Akarad Tivoli Z.
“I’m actually very happy with my performance in the first round because it was a tough challenge for my horse and myself,” Kukuk shared. “He has a big stride but is a slow horse so I had to do something out of the box; I decided to leave strides out, but then I thought I could keep going like that in the jump-off and got greedy. We learned something from today but I’m super proud of the horse. It’s a special, special horse. I really believe in him and have a lot of hope for the future with him.”
Mändli had not initially seen the class as one he would come out winning, especially on one of the less experienced horses in the field, but he was thrilled with the outcome and his horse, saying during the course walk that a horse that could jump Sunday’s track clear is a horse that could jump the FEI World Cup™ Finals.
“With [Shane and Christian] behind me there was no way I could have been fast enough at this stage of Qoachella’s career,” he went on about his strategy going first in the jump-off. “I just tried to do my best and keep the jumps up and be efficient but obviously the time was beatable. That’s show jumping; you have to be clear as well.”
Qoachella, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Mosito van het Hellehof x Ferro) for Grand Road Partners, LLC, rose to the occasion Sunday and Mändli will let her decide how the rest of the FEI World Cup™ season plays out.
This was the horse’s FEI World Cup™ Qualifier debut, as well as her first-ever five-star grand prix, only her second 1.60m track, and just her second time competing at the five-star level, following her debut the week prior during Major League Show Jumping. She’s two for two with winning 1.60m classes, which is an exceptional record.
With a victory like this, Mändli can start to think about aiming the horse at the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, however jumping a championship over three days with the same technicality, if not more, of Sunday’s course may be a challenge he feels she’s not ready for yet.
“She surprises me every time she goes to a bigger class,” he said of the mare and her performance. “She’s a super intelligent horse. I’ll see what comes. For now I just focus and be happy for today. It was a bit surprising the win for me today but I’ve always liked the [FEI] World Cup™ Finals and I love indoors. Let’s see how it goes.”
For Mändli’s professional career, as decorated as it is, this was a special win as well.
“I haven’t actually won so many five-star grand prixs in my career,” he shared. “I’ve had a couple big wins but this may be only the second five-star grand prix win. Obviously I’m super happy for the whole team, for the horse, the owners Grand Road Partners. I can’t hardly believe it, to be honest.”
Mändli has become a bit of a regular in Traverse City over the years, so winning at this venue felt extra special, even though he hasn’t been able to compete as much this summer as in previous years.
“I had a bit of a slow start; I didn’t do so much over the summer because I was with Katie in Europe so the horses were a bit behind,” he noted, coaching Katie Dinan (USA) to the FEI World Championships in Aachen. “Then two starts straight in the five-star shows last week was a little tricky but you have to be patient and I know they are good horses. I also know I can do it so it worked out well.”
“We’ve been running this show for 11 years now, slowly building it up,” said Matt Morrissey of Traverse City Horse Shows. “You can see every year the caliber of rider gets better and better. Looking at this year’s field we have probably a dozen riders in the top 30.
“Next year we have a very similar schedule, we’ll increase prize money as always,” Morrissey added. “We’ll do facility improvements, and we’re adding a new jumper ring so we have a complementary ring for the International Ring. We’re always continuing to expand and improve.”
Results here.
Saturday: Erynn Ballard 2nd in $62,500 American Gold Cup 2* Grand Prix
McLain Ward and new partner Hialita B win the $62,500 Horseflight American Gold Cup CSI2* Grand Prix, while Daniel Bluman and Gemma W add another five-star victory to their Traverse City season
Erynn Ballard and Ravallo Van de Helle placed second in the $62,500 American Gold Cup 2* Grand Prix. (Traverse City Horse Shows Facebook)
Two familiar names teamed up on Saturday to contend the $62,500 Horseflight American Gold Cup CSI2* Grand Prix, and it seems to be the start of a promising partnership. Mclain Ward (USA) and Hialita B, owned by Mike Smith, were one of nine pairs to contend Alan Wade’s (IRL) jump-off, and it wasn’t particularly surprising to see them already off to a blazing start, taking the win and making many excited for the future.
“This is actually my first show with this mare of Mike Smith’s,” Ward said following the win. “She’s been a top horse with Thaisa Erwin (AUS) the past several years at the highest levels of the sport, and was the alternate for the Australian team at the World Championships in Aachen. I took over the ride about a week ago. We did a couple small classes and I’m excited about the future with her.”
Around the short course, Ward put his trust in the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Emerald x Vaillant). “She knows her game so I knew I could trust her and she’s a naturally very fast horse. Even though we’re inexperienced, I know what her experience is.”
Up against fellow top names paired with newer partners, Ward rode to a time of 36.09 seconds. Fellow Olympian Erynn Ballard (CAN) came closest to their time, clocking in at 36.31 seconds with Ravallo van de Helle, ultimately taking second. Ariana Marnell (USA) was third with Dagny, another impressively fast double-clear performance.
This was just the start for Ward and Hialita B, with the partnership continuing to build from here.
“She’s actually going to do the five-star in Greenwich next week, not the Grand Prix but she’ll show in other classes,” he shared. “We’ll keep building the relationship and see where it goes.”
Owner Smith echoed his excitement seeing Ward pilot Hialita B and looks forward to what their partnership can produce.
“I’m all about [the U.S. Equestrian Team],” Smith noted. “McLain and I have been friends for a long time and we’re having a lot of fun together. I knew this horse would shine and do great things under him. This was the plan and we’re going to see what he can do. I’m so happy for the horse; she deserves a win.”
“I feel glad to be part of the team,” he continued. “McLain is a great person, a good friend, and such a fabulous rider. Whenever I go in the ring I try to think, ‘What would McLain do and how would he look doing it?’”
Hialita B could be a contender for classes like the American Gold Cup in upcoming years for Ward, who is still eager to add a win in the prestigious class to his résumé.
“I’m feeling good,” Ward said of his preparation for Sunday’s event. “I have a great entry in Jordan Molga, also owned by Mike, and it’s one of two classes in the world that’s eluded me in my career — the Gold Cup and the Grand Prix of Aachen — so hopefully we can change that.”
Results here.
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