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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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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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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The final Grand Prix of the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments saw twenty-seven horse/rider combinations take on the 615m track designed by FEI Course Designer Santiago Varela.

The top twelve placed riders from the first round then challenged a second track in hopes a combined score would leave them at the top or force a jump-off.

Amongst the top twelve returning for the second round were some of the week’s previous winners, Kyle King (USA), Daniel Coyle and Jordan Coyle – who won the AKITA Drilling Cup earlier in the day.

They were joined by Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) who also finished on zero faults over the two rounds to create a four horse jump-off.

Coyle’s big win

Daniel Coyle was ready for a big win. After two rounds of jumping, a jump-off was required to determine the winner.

Jordan Coyle held the lead briefly with a clear jump off time of 35.86 seconds but younger brother Daniel piloting the brilliant, Incredible, crossed the finish line clear in a time of 35.21 seconds.

American Kyle King came close to topping Daniel’s time but finished second with a clear round time of 35.29 seconds. A rail in the jump-off kept Alrajhi off the podium.

A delighted Daniel Coyle spoke after his major win, stating:

“I like to come here for the summer because every horse gets a little better, even the horses at the top of the game. But not only that, we also have some six, some seven year-olds here, and, they are the future, so we have to bring them along as well.”

Ireland’s Paul O’Shea was tenth with Imerald Van’T Voorhof.

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The winning round format competition had 33 horse/rider combinations challenge the first track and the 10 top results from that round qualified for the winning round.

Five of the riders returning for the winning round carried the Irish flag, a dominant force this 2025 Summer Tournament Season.

It was another victory for Jordan Coyle riding, For Gold, in the AKITA Drilling Cup. The pair delivered the fastest clear ride in the winning round with a time of 51.79 seconds.

Briton Charlie Jones with Capitale 6 took the second step on the podium, as they went clear in 53.33 seconds.

Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez, riding Chalouries PS took third, stopping the clock in 58.13 seconds.

Daniel Coyle and Farrel were next best of the Irish in fifth.

James Chawke, riding Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z, were eighth, following by Darragh Kenny with Zero K in ninth.

Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky rounded out the top-10.

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The ATCO Cup was contested over the track designed by FEI course builder Santiago Varela of Spain.

Darragh Kenny aboard Lightning produced the fastest clear round in the five combination jump-off with a time of 36.95 seconds.

Conor Swail finished in second with Qoreen Van’t Ruyershof in a time of 42.33 seconds.

Canadian Sarah Lottis, rounded out the top three placings, as she and Itoulon S finished third, with four faults, in 40.25 seconds.

Daniel Coyle and Legacy finished in in fifth place, after eight faults in the jump-off round.

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In the only qualifier for this week’s CSI2* Grand Prix, forty-seven horse/rider combinations took to the International Ring and eleven jumped clear to advance to the jump off.

The Irish have been on a roll all summer long at Spruce Meadows and Daniel Coyle was determined to continue that streak.

Coyle posted a fast clear round with both his horses, Daydream and Calippo 57, taking first with the former in a time of 43.15 seconds. He claimed the runner-up position with Calippo 57, as they stopped the timers in 43.88 seconds.

Kara Chad of Canada was third aboard Chicago, while Offaly rider Darragh Kenny also made the top-10. He finished in seventh place in 44.76 seconds, having had four faults.

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It is a fifth 5* victory of the summer at the Canadian venue for the Irish rider, as he and King Kannan GP took the 5* competition in the International Ring.

With ten combinations jumping clear in the opening round to advance to the jump-off, the Irish combination won with a clear in 40.35 seconds.

USA’s Kyle King took second place on the rostrum with SIG Chiari. They were runners-up with a clear round in 40.85 seconds.

Conor Swail took third for Ireland, riding Qoreen Van’t Ruytershof, as they stopped the timers with a clear round in 41.36 seconds.

Daniel Coyle, brother of the class winner, Jordan, came home in fifth position aboard Farrel, while Conor Swail was seventh on his second horse in the competition, One Edition.

Darragh Kenny and Genial De B’Nevill rounded out a successful class for the Irish combinations as they claimed tenth spot.

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Spanish FEI course builder Santiago Varela’s course featured 14 obstacles and 17 jumping efforts over a 650m track in the International Ring.

Forty-seven combinations took on the Derby-style track, with nine combinations successfully clearing the first round and advancing to the jump-off.

In a very fast jump-off round, Jordan Coyle, and King Kannan GP, held top spot with a clear round in 34.40 seconds – but only until his younger brother Daniel and Calippo 57 challenged, as the last jump-off combination into the Ring.

Daniel Coyle aboard his new mount, Calippo 57, took all the risks and came away rewarded. The pair crossed the finishing line in a time 34.16 seconds to win the Canada Cup Derby.

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The Irish rider/horse combination were one of seven, from thirty-three competitors, to jump clear in the first round and advance to the jump-off.

The course built by FEI Course Designer Anderson Lima of Mexico featured 13 obstacles, and a total of 16 jumping efforts.

Aboard For Gold, Coyle triggered the finish line at 38.64 seconds, over two seconds faster than Mexican Patricio Pasquel who finished in second with a time of 40.75 seconds.

Ireland’s Conor Swail claimed the third podium spot with Qoreen Van ‘T Ruytershof, going clear in the jump-off round in 40.81 seconds.

Daniel Coyle and Farrel were seventh in 42.28 seconds, having eight faults in their jump-off round.

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