The Irish team consisted of Cian O’Connor, Jordan Coyle, Tom Wachman and Shane Sweetnam.

Teams from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Israel and Mexico and the USA contested.

The hosts took the title – their 11th win in the 24-year history of the FEI Nations Cup at Wellington, Florida.

Ireland were tied for the lead with the USA at the midway point of competition as Israel and Colombia failed to advance to the second round over the Nick Garant-built course.

Ireland on zero score at half-way 

Ireland and the USA began the second round on zero scores, after Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Tom Wachman had all jumped without faults.

Scores of zero on the board once again came from Callie Schott and Marilyn Little for the home nation, while a rail fell for Karl Cook.

For the Irish squad’s second round, Jordan Coyle and Cian O’Connor were clear, with Wachman aboard Do It Easy and Sweetman with Rural Junior SCF posting four faults each, ensuring the hosts took a second consecutive victory in the competition.

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Eleven combinations advanced to the tiebreaker, with the Irish representatives coming out in top over Andy Christiansen’s (ECU) jump-off course.

Irish 1-2

The 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding stopped the clock at 37.90 seconds with Wexford’s Bertram Allen right behind in 39.12 seconds riding Conquest de Rigo.

Taking third was Charlotte Jacobs (USA) in a time of 40.01 seconds riding North Star’s Playboy JT Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding.

Kenny delighted to be back in action

“I knew Bertram’s horse has a massive stride,” Kenny admitted. “He did seven [strides] from one to two. I wasn’t sure if I could do that, but it showed up for me. I think my horse is more experienced than his in jump-offs, so that’s probably where it got him,” said Kenny of his jump-off round with his 2025 European Championships partner Eddy Blue.

Kenny was officially cleared to return to international competition on 13 February after the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) lifted a provisional suspension issued on 13 October following a positive drug test during the FEI European Championships.

“This is my first week back – Bertram rode Eddy for me recently and did a fantastic job on him,” said the Irish Olympian. “The horse feels ready to go, and he was amazing today as he always is. I’m very lucky to have such a fantastic group of owners and staff who kept the horses in great shape. I was lucky Bertram was able to ride them for me – I’m very thankful to everybody who was involved in that.”

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Sweetnam started the day as a hopeful for an American Gold Cup hat trick after winning the historic title in 2022 and 2024 with James Kann Cruz. He and the 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding (Kannan x Cruising) stopped the clock just over a second shy of the winning time in 35.97 to finish second.

The highlight of the summer in North America

“James Kann Cruz was great, Greya [the mount of winning rider, Kent Farrington] is just a faster horse,” admitted Sweetnam. “Even going in, I knew it would be a long shot. I watched Greya’s round and knew that it probably wouldn’t be caught but I’ve already had about six or seven second-place finishes this year, so I was going to give it a go no matter what. I didn’t feel I left much out there.

“For North America, this is the highlight of the summer,” he continued. “Since I’ve come over from Ireland, it has been a special class held at brilliant venues.”

15-year-old Farrel puts Coyle on podium

Fellow Irish Olympian Daniel Coyle piloted Farrel to third in 36.49 for owner Ariel Grange. The podium finish was a momentous one after the now 15-year-old (VDL Cardento x Argelith Stakkato) was sidelined for six years from an injury as a 9-year-old.

“Every round on this horse feels like a bonus because there was a point we never thought he would jump again, let alone double clear in a five-star,” said the world no. 11. “The American Gold Cup is an iconic event for riders from any country, and I’m thrilled to get a piece of it.”

Kent Farrington and Greya win

World number 1 Kent Farrington is setting a new standard with his magnificent mare Greya. Together, they won a record sixth five-star grand prix inside a year to lift the iconic American Gold Cup and claim their share of $340,000 in prize money.

Farrington and the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender) established the standard over Alan Wade’s opening round as the first of an eventual six clear. On theme for the record-breaking day, Wade designed his 11th American Gold Cup track this week.

Third success for Farrington

Greya set the pace yet again in the jump-off at 34.75 seconds, which would stand as the winning result. Farrington has now won the American Gold Cup three times, previously in 2016 and 2020.

“My biggest concern today was going to be measuring the speed it was going to take to win,” said Farrington. “You don’t want to be chasing what somebody else can do—you have to know what your horse’s best possible round is. I tried to put down a solid effort where they were going to have to do something special to beat me, and luckily it worked out.”

The American Gold Cup was first awarded in 1970 and has been won by some of show jumping’s most legendary names throughout its 55-year history.

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Aboard his 2024 Olympic Games mount, Sweetnam topped a 10-horse jump-off set by course designer and fellow Irishman Alan Wade, clocking a winning time of 33.71 seconds..

The US-based Cork-born rider said of his partner, James Kann Cruz,

“We are having a great career together and ‘Gizmo’ is fresh right now, so I wanted to give this class today some respect for $117,000 and try to win it.”

Of his 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding (Kannan x Cruising) owned in partnership with the Gizmo Group, Sweetnam added:

“He’s very sensitive. But if you do the right things, you get a reward for it, so it’s worth it. He feels great and jumped fantastic today, so hopefully we’ll have some luck on Sunday.”

Sweetnam won the American Gold Cup at Traverse City Horse Shows in both 2022 and 2024.

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A total of 26 competitors entered the class. Having successfully jumped the first phase of the course, Coyle turned on the speed to navigate the second phase of the course in a time of 29.52 seconds riding Farrel.

It would prove to be good enough for the win, with Canada’s Erynn Ballard settling for second in 30.41 seconds riding Her Game Ball BG.

McLain Ward of the United States, currently ranked number eight in the world, rounded out the top three with a time of 30.49 seconds riding Snapchat van de Broekkant Z, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.

“Very peculiar horse”

Coyle’s winning partner was Farrel, purchased at the VDL Auction in Wellington, Florida, as a seven-year-old.

“He’s had a very peculiar career,” said Coyle of the Dutch Warmblood gelding. “He was my top horse as a nine-year-old and then Covid hit, and he had some time off. He grew a cyst in his stifle and they said he’d never jump again, but Ariel came in with some magic and said we’ll give him another chance. He owes none of us anything but if you see him going into the arena, he’s so fired up. He’s been my top horse before and now he’s 15 years old and he’s still one of our top horses. It’s a really special story.”

Currently ranked ninth in the world, Coyle was back on Canadian soil after competing with different horses at CSIO5* Dublin the previous weekend.

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The high quality class saw 40 horse and rider combinations tackle Alan Wade’s course, but it was the penultimate combination to jump who produced the only clear round of the final day feature competition.

The veteran US rider took the €166,000 winner’s prize on the Cherry Knoll Farm-owned mare.

Former Ireland chef d’équipe Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom claimed the runner-up position with the fastest of 11 four-fault scores. The Brazilian and his partner clocked 73.61 seconds to take home €100,000.

US-based Cork rider Shane Sweetnam finished best of the Irish in third place on the podium with CSF James Kann Cruz, stopping the timers at 74.39 seconds, to win €75,000.

Seven nationalities were represented in the top-10 of the five star €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, with combinations from Germany, Britain, Canada and Mexico joining the three countries represented on the podium.

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The win was a third Aga Khan Trophy success for the Dutch, who finished the competition as the only team on a zero score.

The winning team consisted of Frank Schuttert (Isis), Kevin Jochem (Camilla Van De Helle), William Greve (Grandorado TN N.O.P.) and Harrie Smolders (Mr. Tac).

Smolders, the anchor rider for the Dutch, knew he couldn’t afford to knock a fence in the second round, as four faults would have seen a jump-off between the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany.

The foot perfect round by Smolders and Mr. Tac gave the Dutch their first Aga Khan win since 2010.

Ireland and Germany finished level on four faults, but with the Germans faster combined times, they were placed second, ahead of the home nation.

The two younger Irish riders on the team, 20-year-old Tom Wachman and 23-year-old Séamus Hughes Kennedy both produced double clear rounds on their mounts Tabasco De Toxandria Z and ESI Rocky respectively.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Vistogrand, the Irish pathfinders, had four faults in both rounds.

Cian O’Connor and Bentley De Sury had one fence down in the first round, before going clear in the second.

The defending Aga Khan champions, the USA, finished in fourth position, ahead of the British in fifth, and Canada in sixth. Mexico took seventh position, with Switzerland in eighth.

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Eight teams will contest the feature class of the week for the award of the Aga Khan Trophy.

The Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Britain, Mexico and the United States will compete in the CSIO5* 1.60m class.

Ireland’s Chef d’Équipe Michael Blake has named Denis Lynch, Tom Wachman, Séamus Hughes Kennedy and Cian O’Connor on the home side’s team.

Tipperary’s Germany-based Lynch will be first into the Main Arena aboard the 12-year-old stallion Vistograd.

Tom Wachman, a winner of the Anglesea Speed Stakes yesterday, will follow with the Coolmore Showjumping-owned Tabasco De Toxandria Z.

Séamus Hughes Kennedy and ESI Rocky, who jumped their first 5* class here two years ago, is the third line Irish combination. ESI Rocky is the top-rated horse in this class with a staggering 70% clear rate at 5* 160 level, according to equiratings.com.

Cian O’Connor, so often the anchor leg for Irish teams throughout the years, will again fill that role this afternoon, as he rides the 14-year-old chestnut gelding Bentley De Sury.

Ireland finished in the runner-up position in both of the last two years, and will start as favourites this afternoon.

According to equiratings.com, Ireland is the team to beat on paper, with their website rating Ireland’s win chances at 34%, followed by Germany and and last year’s winners, the USA, on 14% each.

The Nations’ Cup of Ireland for the award of the Aga Khan Trophy gets underway at 3pm.

RTÉ2’s TV coverage from the RDS begins at 1.45pm.

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Twenty-year-old Tom Wachman and Hawaii gave Coolmore Showjumping a win in the Main Arena when taking the Anglesea Speed Stakes.

Last to go of 35 starters in the 1.45m Table C class, the Irish duo went clear in 69.51 seconds, to grab the advantage from earlier leader, Bryan Balsiger of Switzerland, aboard Fais Toi Belle Du Seigneur. They had previously set the time to beat at 69.65 seconds.

Third place went to Tipperary’s Denis Lynch, riding Katja. The German-based combination stopped the timers with a clear round in 70.10 seconds.

Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino win

The second international class in the Main Arena on Thursday afternoon, The Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes, worth €58,600, went to Derry’s Jordan Coyle with Chaccolino.

Six combinations, representing Ireland, Brazil, Mexico and USA, successfully completed the opening round to progress to the jump-off.

One of the clear rounds, Trevor Breen and Highland President, did not contest the jump-off, leaving five to go against the clock.

Rodrigo Pessoa, the former Irish chef d’équipe, went clear with Major Tom, setting a target of 41.18 seconds.

Coyle and his willing partner Chaccolino brought the crowd to their feet with a clear in 37.19 seconds – a time that would be impossible to beat.

Meath’s Cian O’Connor with Iron Man, and Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro aboard H5 Origi Horta, both had eight faults, leaving them in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Last to go against the clock was top US rider McLain Ward, riding Imperial HBF. Despite his black gelding’s best efforts, however, he finished runner-up, with a clear round in 38.56 seconds.

Friday is Aga Khan Nations Cup Day at the Dublin Horse Show.

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Home competitors won two of the three international classes in the Main Arena at the RDS, with Jordan Coyle and Michael Pender taking wins.

The opening, Speed Stakes by Heathman Farm, saw Millview Cicero and Coyle win, with a clear round in 52.70 seconds. Irish riders and horses took five of the top-six-placings in the class.

Pender and HHS Fortune are second Irish winners

HHS Fortune and Michael Pender claimed the Minerva Stakes by LHA Group, stopping the clock with a clear round in 51.23 seconds. Here Irish combinations took four of the first five places.

The final international class in the Main Arena on Wednesday went to Germany’s Richard Vogel and Phenyo Van Het Keysersbos. Their time of 67.57 seconds brought them the €9,306 first prize.

Michael Pender and HHS Los Angeles were best of the Irish, taking the runner-up spot, as they stopped the timers in 67.88 seconds.

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