Alrajhi Alone From Forty at Spruce Meadows. De Freitas Barcha's First Five-Star in Monaco. PJL Gets the Green Light.

A week of singular performances and seismic industry moves. Abdulrahman Alrajhi produced the only clear result of the day over Santiago Varela's punishing $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup track at Spruce Meadows, while Stephan de Freitas Barcha claimed his first five-star Grand Prix victory at Monaco's Port Hercule in a nine-horse jump-off decided by two tenths of a second. Off the course, the Premier Jumping League cleared its biggest hurdle yet with FEI approval, then sold its first franchise for $50 million.

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Calgary ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CSI5* Spruce Meadows 'North American', Calgary, Canada | June 30 – July 5

Santiago Varela Ullastres delivered one of the most demanding tracks of the season. Of the 40 starters in the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, just two went clear in the first round: Abdulrahman Alrajhi aboard the 13-year-old Ventago and Daniel Bluman with Corbie V.V. The triple bar to triple combination proved the defining test, causing chaos across the field including a fall for Rupert Winkelmann.

The class was run over two rounds, with the top 12 after round one returning and a jump-off held only if needed. It was never needed. Alrajhi was the only combination to jump clear across both rounds, and his double-zero secured the Saudi Arabian rider the lion's share of the million-dollar prize in emphatic fashion.

Pre-tournament favourite Richard Vogel, world No. 2, collected two rails in the opening round and could recover no further than eighth. Daniel Bluman, one of only two clear in round one, had the win within reach going last in round two but dropped a rail on the lavender field jump. His four-fault second round still earned him the bronze.

Defending champion Daniel Coyle fought through a rail and stumble in round one to post a clean second round for the runner-up spot. Lillie Keenan posted the best American result in fifth, tied on faults and time with Britain's Robert Whitaker. And 20-year-old Hallie Grimes was a bright spot in seventh, a single time fault in round two the only thing between her and a genuine crack at the win.

$1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup 1.60m Results:

1. 🇸🇦 Abdulrahman Alrajhi, Ventago (0/0)
2. 🇮🇪 Daniel Coyle, Farrel (4/0)
3. 🇮🇱 Daniel Bluman, Corbie V.V. (0/4)
4. 🇨🇦 Kyle King, Kayenne Z (4/0)
5. 🇺🇸 Lillie Keenan, Kick On (4/0)
6. 🇬🇧 Robert Whitaker, Equine America Vermento (4/0)
7. 🇺🇸 Hallie Grimes, Jon Snow (4/1t)
8. 🇩🇪 Richard Vogel, Gangster Montdesir (8/4)
9. 🇲🇽 Arturo Parada Vallejo, Laretto (4/9)
10. 🇺🇸 Mclain Ward, Lestro VD Valckenborg (8/8)

Two-round format: (R1 faults/R2 faults). Top 12 after R1 returned for R2; jump-off held only if needed.

📹 Watch Alrajhi's winning round

📹 Watch the full ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup on CBC Gem (free replay)

📊 Full results

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Monaco ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CSI5* LGCT Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco, Monaco | July 2–4

Stephan de Freitas Barcha has competed on the biggest stages in show jumping for years. On Saturday at Port Hercule, the Brazilian finally got the headline. His first five-star Grand Prix victory came in the most dramatic setting possible: Monaco, on the tour's 20th anniversary, in a nine-horse jump-off that went down to two tenths of a second.

De Freitas Barcha and the 13-year-old Dinozo Imperio Egipcio clocked 35.40 seconds in the jump-off, just 0.20s faster than Italian Piergiorgio Bucci on Pallieter vd N.Ranch. The risk came at the last fence, a long approach that could have gone wrong but paid off in full.

Kevin Staut posted the fastest raw jump-off time at 35.30 seconds, but a rail at the final fence dropped him to sixth, the cruelest margin in a class full of them. Christian Ahlmann rounded out the podium with a clean 36.18 seconds. Henrik von Eckermann also faulted in the jump-off after a fast opening. Championship leader Abdel Saïd was denied a jump-off spot by a single rail in round one. Earlier in the weekend, Kristen Vanderveen impressed with a CSI5* 1.50m win aboard Starbucks 27 in 33.78 seconds.

€600,000 Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco 1.60m Results:

1. 🇧🇷 Stephan de Freitas Barcha, Dinozo Imperio Egipcio (0/0, 35.40s JO)
2. 🇮🇹 Piergiorgio Bucci, Pallieter vd N.Ranch (0/0, 35.60s JO)
3. 🇩🇪 Christian Ahlmann, Untouched LB (0/0, 36.18s JO)
4. 🇧🇪 Nicola Philippaerts, Moya vd Bisschop (0/0, 37.23s JO)
5. 🇬🇧 Jessica Mendoza, Ascadina PP Z (0/0, 42.82s JO)
6. 🇫🇷 Kevin Staut, Vida Loca Z (0/4, 35.30s JO)
7. 🇸🇪 Henrik von Eckermann, Iliana (0/4, 36.49s JO)
8. 🇧🇪 Thibault Philippaerts, Pittman v/h Lilleveld (0/8, 35.21s JO)
9. 🇩🇪 Philipp Weishaupt, Chaquitos PS (0/RT)
10. 🇧🇪 Abdel Saïd, Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof (4)

📹 Watch de Freitas Barcha's winning round

📊 Full results

LGCT Championship standings after Monaco (Leg 8):

1. 🇧🇪 Abdel Saïd, 167 pts
2. 🇦🇹 Max Kühner, 159 pts
3. 🇦🇺 Edwina Tops-Alexander, 138.67 pts
4. 🇩🇪 Katrin Eckermann, 138 pts
5. 🇧🇪 Zoe Hank Conter, 134.1 pts

"This is my first five-star Grand Prix win, and to do it here in Monaco, such a historic and special place, means so much. I'm really emotional because I'm doing this for a lot of people... He's unbelievable. He's a fighter. He always wants to jump clear and do his best."

Stephan de Freitas Barcha, horsesport.com

"I knew my time could be beaten because I wasn't quite tight enough to the vertical after the combination... Stephan did an amazing jump-off and took a big risk to the last fence, that's where he caught me."

Piergiorgio Bucci, horsesport.com

Global Champions League, Round 2

There was silverware for the tour's team heavyweights too. Riesenbeck International completed a hat-trick, as Michael Weishaupt and Marcus Kutscher combined for a clear round in 139.61 seconds to edge Madrid in Motion by six hundredths of a second, one of the closest finishes in GCL history. It was Riesenbeck's third consecutive GCL victory, and it extended their command of the overall standings.

GCL of Monaco, Round 2 Results:

1. Riesenbeck International (M. Weishaupt, M. Kutscher), 0 faults, 139.61s
2. Madrid in Motion (M. van der Vleuten, K. Emmen), 0 faults, 139.67s
3. Shanghai Swans (C. Ahlmann, M. Kühner), 4 faults, 140.06s

📊 Full results

GCL Championship standings after Monaco (Leg 8):

1. Riesenbeck International, 161 pts
2. Prague Lions, 132 pts
3. Istanbul Warriors, 126 pts
4. Basel Cosmopolitans, 126 pts
5. Cannes Stars, 125 pts

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Quick Hits

Bolesworth International ⭐⭐⭐⭐

CSI4*, Harthill, Great Britain | July 1–5

Jack Whitaker, nephew of legendary John Whitaker who also competed in this Grand Prix, won the Al Shira'aa Grand Prix aboard the 17-year-old D&H Valmy de La Lande. The 24-year-old combined pace and precision in a 13-horse jump-off from six nations, stopping the clock at 41.64 seconds.

Al Shira'aa CSI4* Grand Prix 1.55m Top 5:

1. 🇬🇧 Jack Whitaker, D&H Valmy de La Lande (0/0, 41.64s JO)
2. 🇮🇪 David Simpson, Pjotr van de Kruishoeve (0/0, 42.55s JO)
3. 🇬🇧 Holly Smith, Nike van het Singraven (0/0, 42.68s JO)
4. 🇮🇪 Billy Twomey, Ace Of Hearts Z (0/0, 43.56s JO)
5. 🇺🇸 Paris Sellon, Chad Blue PS (0/0, 43.81s JO)

📹 Watch Whitaker's winning round

📊 Full results

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Traverse City ⭐⭐⭐

CSI3*, Michigan, USA | July 1–5

Francisco Goyoaga Mollet broke through for his first Traverse City FEI Grand Prix victory after multiple second-place finishes spanning three seasons, beating world No. 1 Kent Farrington in a 10-horse jump-off.

$116,500 Meijer CSI3* Grand Prix 1.45m Top 3:

1. 🇪🇸 Francisco Goyoaga Mollet, Stakato Cornet (0/0, 37.33s JO)
2. 🇺🇸 Olivia Sweetnam, Gilona AO (0/0, 38.33s JO)
3. 🇺🇸 Charlotte Jacobs, Cristiano Obolensky (0/0, 38.47s JO)

📹 Watch Goyoaga Mollet's winning round

📊 Full results

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Lake Placid ⭐⭐⭐

CSI3*, New York, USA | June 30 – July 5

Molly Ashe Cawley dethroned defending champion Philip McGuane by 0.52 seconds to win the $100,000 Richard Feldman Grand Prix. She also took home the Richard and Diana Feldman Perpetual Trophy for Excellence for best combined finishes across both Lake Placid weeks.

$100,000 Richard Feldman Grand Prix CSI3* Top 3:

1. 🇺🇸 Molly Ashe Cawley, Lorona (0/0, 37.21s JO)
2. 🇮🇪 Philip McGuane, Paso Doble SCF (0/0, 37.73s JO)
3. 🇮🇪 Nicky Galligan, Jolly-Jessy (0/4, 40.69s JO)

📹 Watch Ashe Cawley's winning round

📊 Full results

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Ommen ⭐⭐⭐

CSI3*, The Netherlands | June 30 – July 5

Twenty-one-year-old Ansgar Holtgers Jr claimed his second Grand Prix victory in three weeks, having also won at Outdoor Gelderland, beating Swiss rider Noah Keller by just 19 hundredths of a second.

Handelshuis Schuttert Grote Prijs CSI3* 1.55m Top 3:

1. 🇺🇸 Ansgar Holtgers Jr, Pixel-K van't Kattenheye (0/0, 38.38s JO)
2. 🇨🇭 Noah Keller, Nestor Vdr (0/0, 38.57s JO)
3. 🇩🇪 Kendra Claricia Brinkop, In Time (0/0, 39.34s JO)

📹 Watch Holtgers Jr's winning round

📊 Full results

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Maubeuge ⭐⭐⭐

CSI3*, France | July 2–5

Mathieu Bourdeaud'hui won by four hundredths of a second over compatriot Constant Van Paesschen in a Belgian one-two, his first CSI3* Grand Prix victory since Vejer de la Frontera in October 2024.

Grand Prix Lorban TP CSI3* 1.55m Top 3:

1. 🇧🇪 Mathieu Bourdeaud'hui, Oscar The Homage (0/0, 34.76s JO)
2. 🇧🇪 Constant Van Paesschen, Unaki de Bornival Z (0/0, 34.80s JO)
3. 🇫🇷 Alix Ragot, Gueule d'Amours (0/0, 35.07s JO)

📹 Watch the top two rounds side by side

📊 Full results

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Sariego (Maeza) ⭐⭐⭐

CSI3*, Asturias, Spain | July 2–5

Olivier Robert dominated with two flawless rounds, winning the jump-off by nearly two seconds over Japan's Eiken Sato. Javier Gonzalez Fraga's Sonic JGF received the Special Award for Best Spanish Sport Horse.

Gran Premio Maeza CSI3* 1.50m Top 3:

1. 🇫🇷 Olivier Robert, Iglesias D.V. (0/0, 44.10s JO)
2. 🇯🇵 Eiken Sato, Campai 3 (0/0, 46.03s JO)
3. 🇪🇸 Javier Gonzalez Fraga, Sonic JGF (0/4, 41.44s JO)

📹 Watch Robert's winning round

📊 Full results

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EEF Peelbergen ⭐⭐⭐

CSIO3*, Kronenberg, The Netherlands | July 2–5

Belgium dominated the entire week. France's Alexa Ferrer won the Grand Prix aboard the 15-year-old Vitalhorse Naiade d'Elsendam Z in a five-way jump-off, but the headline belonged to the Belgian Nations Cup team, who took the title on just 6 faults across two rounds. Gudrun Patteet delivered a clutch double clear to help seal it. The top five teams qualified for the EEF Series Final in Avenches; Norway missed out by a single penalty.

CSIO3* Grand Prix 1.55m Top 3:

1. 🇫🇷 Alexa Ferrer, Vitalhorse Naiade d'Elsendam Z (0/0, 47.78s JO)
2. 🇧🇪 Roy van Beek, Charleston-H (0/0, 48.04s JO)
3. 🇧🇪 Emilie Conter, Quiberon-P (0/0, 49.04s JO)

Longines EEF Nations Cup Final Standings:

1. 🇧🇪 Belgium, 6 faults
2. 🇸🇪 Sweden, 13 faults
3. 🇪🇸 Spain, 19 faults
4. 🇫🇷 France, 21 faults
5. 🇬🇧 Great Britain, 30 faults
6. 🇳🇴 Norway, 31 faults

📹 Watch Gudrun Patteet's Nations Cup clinching round

📊 Grand Prix results

📊 Nations Cup results

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Tryon ⭐⭐⭐

CSI3*, North Carolina, USA | June 30 – July 5

Jacqueline Ruyle won the $120,000 CSI3* Grand Prix aboard H Cornetta DK, the only combination to leave all the rails up in the jump-off. She took the title on America's 250th birthday, July 4, as part of a patriotic celebration featuring a Pony Spectacular and drone show.

FEI $120,000 CSI3* Grand Prix 1.50m Top 3:

1. 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Ruyle, H Cornetta DK (0/0, 39.06s JO)
2. 🇨🇱 Samuel Parot, Chrystal Blue (0/4, 37.48s JO)
3. 🇮🇪 Stephen Moore, Pearl Gem VDM (0/4, 38.40s JO)

📊 Full results

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Industry News

• League Launch: The FEI Board formally sanctioned the Premier Jumping League on July 1, approving its formats, team structure, and prize money distribution. The PJL will offer $1 million per CSI5* weekend and $100 million total per season, with 16 teams launching in April 2027. (The Plaid Horse)
• Franchise Sale: US investor Jason McCarthy purchased the first PJL team for $50 million, an unprecedented valuation for a newly established equestrian franchise. (BusinessWire)
• Rankings: The June 30 Longines FEI Rankings show Kent Farrington (USA, 3,475 pts) continuing to lead Richard Vogel (GER, 3,382 pts). Shane Sweetnam climbed to 5th, Julien Epaillard surged from 11th to 8th, Daniel Bluman jumped from 12th to 9th. (equnews)
• Team Selection: Germany named its World Championship squad for Aachen: Daniel Deusser, Sophie Hinners, Andre Thieme, and Richard Vogel, with Marcus Ehning as first reserve and Christian Kukuk as second reserve. (spring-reiter.de)
• Team Selection: British Equestrian named its 11-rider World Championship shortlist including Scott Brash, Ben Maher, Harry Charles, Jack Whitaker, and Joe Stockdale among others with 15 horses. Final squad of five due July 23. (Horse & Hound)
• Horse Sales: The Collection Auction presented 22 sport-tested show jumpers and hunters aged 5 to 8 at Peelbergen during the EEF Series. (thecollection-auction.com)
• In Memoriam: British course designer Bob Ellis died aged 79. Ellis designed courses at the 2012 London Olympics and worked in over 30 countries across four decades. Tributes poured in throughout the week. (FEI)

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Looking Ahead: July 6–12

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five-Star

• Falsterbo (CSIO5*, Sweden, July 8–12): The crown jewel of the week. World No. 1 Kent Farrington, No. 2 Richard Vogel, No. 4 Ben Maher, No. 7 Shane Sweetnam, and No. 9 Steve Guerdat headline. Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson chase an unprecedented three-peat in the Agria Falsterbo Nations Cup on Friday, with ten nations contesting. The EUR 500,000 Rolex Grand Prix closes Sunday on the iconic grass arena. Frank Rothenberger builds, the same designer who will set the tracks at the Aachen World Championships, making this a key dress rehearsal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Four-Star

• Valkenswaard (Netherlands, July 9–12): Summer Classic at Jan Tops' Longines Tops International Arena.
• A Coruña (Spain, July 9–12): EUR 105,500 Grand Prix at 1.60m at the 2025 European Championship venue.
• Chantilly (France, July 8–12): Al Shira'aa Classic at one of France's most elegant settings.

⭐⭐⭐ Three-Star

• Ocala (USA, July 7–12): WEC Summer Series Week V with the Young Jumper Championship Final.
• EEF Samorin (CSIO3*, Slovakia, July 8–12): Series Semi Final with a EUR 90,000 Nations Cup.
• San Giovanni in Marignano (Italy, July 8–12): Italian summer circuit fixture near the Adriatic coast.
• Traverse City (USA, July 8–12): Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week II with a $117,000 Grand Prix.

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This Week: 8.6/10

A genuinely exceptional week. Two five-star events delivered defining moments: Alrajhi's lone clear from 40 starters over one of Santiago Varela's most influential tracks of the season, and de Freitas Barcha's first five-star Grand Prix victory at Monaco in a nine-way jump-off decided by 0.20 seconds. Production and prestige scored highest, with Port Hercule and Spruce Meadows among the finest venues in the sport, and the entertainment value across both classes was outstanding. Off the course, the PJL receiving FEI approval and its first $50 million franchise sale marked a potentially transformative week for the sport's commercial future, the kind of governance shift the discipline rarely sees. Add strong supporting action at Bolesworth, razor margins across the three-star circuit, and a wave of World Championship team selections for Aachen, and this lands firmly in the elite tier.