ROLEX US EQUESTRIAN OPEN CSI5* GRAND PRIX

KUKUK'S DOUBLE CELEBRATION: NEW FATHER DEFENDS ROLEX TITLE

Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 defended their title in the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open on Saturday night, becoming only the third combination to win back-to-back editions of this prestigious Grand Prix. The German Olympic champion delivered when it mattered most, stopping the clock at 39.20 seconds in the jump-off.

American Laura Kraut and Bisquetta finished just behind in second place (39.49), while Ashlee Bond of Israel rounded out the podium with Donatello 141 (40.41).

But the real story was happening off the field of play. Kukuk, 35, spent the morning welcoming his first child—a daughter named Lila—before heading to Wellington International to defend his title.

"This is a story you can't imagine," said an emotional Kukuk. "This day is always going to be a very special memory for her birthday. I am the happiest man on the planet tonight."

The Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge, who has designed this finale Grand Prix for 11 consecutive years, produced exactly what he wanted: a challenging but fair course that saw eight combinations advance to the jump-off from 40 starters.

While the open water caused some problems, the Rolex triple combination proved to be a significant test throughout the first round. The jump-off then came down to fractions of a second, with Kukuk admitting he got lucky at the last fence.

"I knew Laura was fast and that I had to try everything in the jump-off," he explained. "I thought for a second that I had lost it but looked to the screen and saw I got lucky in that moment."

Kraut, ever the competitor, analyzed her round with typical candor: "I definitely left the door open. I added to the third jump, the oxer, on the rollback and I also added to the double. I should have left one out in both those places."

For Bond, her third-place finish with longtime partner Donatello 141 was especially meaningful, as the gelding had been recovering from a throat infection caused by allergies.

"The fact that he fought out there for me, jumped double clear and turned himself inside out to have a performance he did tonight just made me really grateful," said Bond, who has partnered with Donatello for nine years.

A capacity crowd of more than 10,000 spectators created an electric atmosphere at Wellington International, capping a record-breaking Winter Equestrian Festival season.

LGCT MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX

CAMILLI CLAIMS MAIDEN GRAND PRIX VICTORY IN ELECTRIFYING JUMP-OFF

Italy's Emanuele Camilli secured his first-ever Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix victory in Mexico City, providing a fitting finale to an exhilarating event at Campo Marte.

Riding Chacco's Girlstar, Camilli delivered a lightning-fast clear round in 42.99 seconds as the final rider in a nine-combination jump-off. Germany's Jörne Sprehe and Sprehe Hot Easy finished second (43.31), while Belgium's Jérôme Guery and Great Britain V completed the podium (43.50).

"I was last to go, and I knew that the jump-off was very fast—I took all the risk and I was lucky that it went my way today," said an elated Camilli, who also secured a golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague. "This show is fantastic, the crowd are amazing—I think this is my new favorite show!"

Course designer Anderson Lima set a demanding track with a particularly challenging line down the home stretch. A tight time allowance added to the difficulty, with home favorite Nicolás Pizarro missing the jump-off by a single time fault.

Guery's third-place finish was especially impressive considering his mount, Great Britain V, was making a comeback after recovering from colic and injury.

"I don't remember the last time I rode a jump-off so fast!" said Guery. "With the atmosphere here, the public, and each rider getting quicker and quicker, it was so exciting to be part of. If I had to ride this class again, I wouldn't change a thing—I'm so happy with my horse!"

Camilli's victory catapulted him to third place in the LGCT standings with 40 points. Ireland's Denis Lynch currently leads with 59 points, while Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander sits second with 44 points.

Quick Hits

SAÏD AND NEW PARTNER SECURE ROLEX TICKET

Belgium's Abdel Saïd and Calvaro won the $62,500 Bainbridge Companies Classic CSI5* in Wellington, securing his ticket to the Rolex Grand Prix. The Belgian and his nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding topped a competitive field of 61 starters, with an impressive 19 combinations jumping clear. Their partnership is just four months old, but Saïd believes Calvaro could become one of the best horses he's ever ridden.

MAHER TRIUMPHS DESPITE FRACTURED FOOT

British Olympic champion Ben Maher and Point Break topped the $116,100 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup CSI5* in 37.60 seconds, outpacing world #2 Kent Farrington on Toulayna (38.75) and Daniel Coyle on Legacy (38.80). What makes the win more impressive? Maher was riding with a fractured foot, and Point Break was flown in specifically for this event between the Dutch Masters and upcoming World Cup Finals.

NASSAR SPEEDS TO VICTORY IN TWO-PHASE CHALLENGE

Egypt's Nayel Nassar claimed the $32,000 Dodd Technologies CSI5* aboard Dorado de Riverland, clocking 30.48 seconds in the two-phase challenge ahead of Italy's Giulia Martinengo Marquet and USA's McLain Ward.

DANISH RIDER BREAKS THROUGH IN MEXICO CITY

Denmark's Zascha Nygaard Lill celebrated her first-ever LGCT victory in the €105,500 Banorte Trophy CSI5* in Mexico City with Com'on Stanley. The 10-year-old stallion showed his jump-off speed, edging out Belgium's Gilles Thomas on Luna van het Dennehof and Jérôme Guery on Killer Queen.

MENEZES DOUBLES UP AT CAMPO MARTE

Brazil's Eduardo Menezes secured his second win of the week in Mexico City, taking the €56,950 Banorte Trophy CSI5* speed class with H5 Ozzy vd Bisschop in 68.27 seconds.

DELESTRE'S UNCANNY MEXICAN STREAK CONTINUES

France's Simon Delestre continued his uncanny streak in Mexico, winning the €10,090 Traxión Trophy CSI5* with Golden Boy DK for the second consecutive year. He was the only rider to break the 30-second barrier with a time of 29.30.

SHANGHAI SWANS FLY HIGH IN TEAM COMPETITION

In the Global Champions League team competition, the Shanghai Swans emerged victorious in Mexico City, strengthening their position in the overall standings with 41 points. The Cannes Stars currently lead the team rankings with 55 points, followed by the Prague Lions with 38 points.

Industry News – Rankings Race Heats Up

The FEI is proposing significant changes to the Olympic qualification system, suggesting the removal of the Longines League of Nations Final as a qualifying event for the LA 2028 Games. This potential shake-up could dramatically alter how nations prepare their Olympic strategies in coming years—is this a signal of even bigger format changes on the horizon?

The United States Jumping Team strengthened their global position with their victory in the Longines League of Nations in Ocala just before this week's events, helping secure their current lead in the overall rankings with 14173 points. Ireland (13582) and Germany (13071) remain in hot pursuit, while Italy has made a significant move by qualifying for the 2025 Longines League of Nations Final at the expense of Brazil. Canada narrowly missed out on qualification—tough luck for a nation that's been rebuilding its program.

Henrik von Eckermann continues his remarkable dominance, now holding the top FEI Longines World Ranking position for an astonishing 32 consecutive months. He's maintained his grip on the #1 spot by just 29 points over Kent Farrington (3271 vs. 3242)—a testament to the razor-thin margins at the elite level.

The US Equestrian Open Series continues its expansion, establishing itself as a major initiative to broaden showjumping's appeal to wider audiences. With the Jumping Final just completed in Wellington, the series will continue with the Eventing Final in Leesburg, Virginia (October 9-12) and the Dressage Final in Thermal, California (November 13-16). This tournament-style format seems to be drawing inspiration from successful models in other major sports—will it become the "Grand Slam" of American equestrian competition?

British Equestrian has released its new five-year strategy, while The Young Riders Academy announced its 2025 selections, identifying the next generation of talent set to make waves in international competition. With several veteran riders stepping back in recent years, who among these rising stars will emerge as the sport's next household names?

Looking Ahead – LGCT Mexico City and WEF Finale

All eyes now turn to Basel, Switzerland, for the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final (April 2-6). The showdown marks the culmination of the indoor season, bringing together qualified riders from leagues around the world for showjumping's most coveted indoor title.

Defending champion Henrik von Eckermann will attempt something rare—a third consecutive World Cup title. But here's the twist: he'll be doing it without his superstar partner King Edward, instead relying on Iliana and Toveks Azario Dinero. Can the world #1 prove his talent transcends a specific horse partnership?

Swiss fans will be missing their hometown hero Steve Guerdat, the three-time World Cup champion who's sidelined by injury. However, 2022 World Cup champion Martin Fuchs will be carrying Swiss hopes on home soil, looking to reclaim the title in front of a partisan crowd.

Other serious contenders include Britain's Ben Maher, who has shown exceptional form despite competing with a fractured foot, Laura Kraut of the USA, Belgium's Pieter Devos and Gregory Wathelet, and France's Julien Epaillard, who's been on fire throughout the European indoor season.

The American contingent is particularly strong this year, with qualified riders including Laura Kraut, Kaitlin Campbell, Shawn Casady, Katie Dinan, Lillie Keenan, McKayla Langmeier, Alise Oken, Kristen Vanderveen, and Alessandra Volpi. Worth watching: Kraut's confidence should be high following her second-place finish in Wellington, but will the overseas travel affect her horses' performance?

Another storyline to follow: Ireland's Denis Lynch, who currently leads the LGCT standings, made a last-minute push to qualify for these Finals during the previous week in Gothenburg. His performance in Basel could significantly impact both his World Cup chances and his season-long LGCT campaign.

Rating: 9/10

This week delivered truly exceptional sport across two continents. The combination of Kukuk's emotional victory hours after his daughter's birth in Wellington and Camilli's breakthrough win in Mexico City created compelling narratives. The sold-out crowds at both venues and jump-offs decided by fractions of a second demonstrated elite sport at its finest. With the World Cup Final on the horizon, it's hard to ask for much more from a week of showjumping.

Who doesn't want to see a new father claim back-to-back Rolex victories? Or watch an up-and-coming rider secure their first major win on one of the sport's biggest stages? That's what makes this sport so special—the human stories behind the scoreboard.

What would you have done in Laura Kraut's position? Take the conservative approach to ensure a clear round, or risk it all by leaving out strides? Let us know your thoughts!

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