Coyle and Uruville Z were one of 10 combinations to make it through to the second round of the Kubota Cup 1.50m in the International Ring.

Scores from the opening round were not carried forward, giving all qualified athletes a clean slate heading into the deciding round.

Irish rider Daniel Coyle rode to victory with Uruville Z as the pair delivered a blistering performance in the winning round, as they crossed the finish line in a time of 48.90 seconds to secure the top spot on the podium.

Coyle and Uruville Z finished a full second ahead of the runner-up combination of Kyle King (CAN) and Replay Touch V/D Stapelheyde, who stopped the clock in 49.91 seconds.

Another Irish combination, Conor Swail with Casturano, took third.

Top 10 Kubota Cup 1.50m

1. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Urville Z
2. Kyle King (CAN) & Replay Touch V/D Stapelheyde
3. Conor Swail (IRL) & Casturano
4. Katie Laurier (NZL) & ZF Chacco Rio
5. Richard Vogel (GER) & Phenyo Van Hey Keysersbos
6. Mark Bluman (ISR) & Inside of My Heart
7. Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) & Victer Finn DH Z
8. McKayla Langmeier (USA) & Isidore de Chalusse
9. Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) & Diaroubet
10. Hilary Scott (AUS) & Lola

Runner-up in QE II Cup

The defending champion Daniel Coyle had to settle for the runner-up position this year in the $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup 1.60m at Spruce Meadows on Saturday.

A maximum field of 40 athletes qualified for the prestigious competition, having earned their place earlier in the week during the Jayman BUILT Cup.

Following the opening round, only the top 12 horse and rider combinations advanced to round two, returning in reverse order of merit to battle for the prestigious competition.

Only two combinations managed to produce fault-free performances in the opening round: Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) aboard 13-year-old Ventago and Daniel Bluman (ISR) aboard the grey mare Corbie V.V.. As they prepared for the decisive second round, they watched a number of competitors deliver clear rounds but carry forward faults from the opening track.

Returning second-last to compete, Alrajhi once again rose to the occasion, producing the only double-clear performance of the day to secure victory.

Bluman, had an unfortunate rail in the second round, opening the door for defending champion Daniel Coyle to move into second place. With the time from the first round carrying over to the second, Bluman ultimately finished third to round out the podium

Top 10 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup 1.60m

1. Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) & Ventago
2. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Farrel
3. Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Corbie V.V.
4. Kyle King (CAN) & Kayenne Z
5. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Kick On
6. Robert Whitaker (GBR) & Equine America Vermento
7. Hallie Grimes (USA) & Jon Snow
8. Richard Vogel (GER) & Gangster Montdesir
9. Arturo Parada Vallejo (MEX) Laretto
10. McLain Ward (USA) & Lestro VD Valckenborg

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The McNerney Cup 1.45m in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows was contested by twenty-five combinations as they took on the challenge of a technical course designed by FEI course designer Santiago Varela.

Nine of the competitors made it through to the second round after producing clears in the first round.

Both Tom Wachman and Daniel Coyle were among the nine to go against the clock in the second round.

Wachman and Hawaii delivered the fastest fault-free round of the jump-off, stopping the clock in 38.87 seconds to claim victory.

Saudi Arabian rider Abdulrahman, aboard Heartbeat W, took the runner-up spot, with Juan Manuel Luzardo (IRI) and Guizmo du Riou completing the podium.

Daniel Coyle and VDL Mourinho took fourth.

Top 10 McNerney Cup 1.45m

1. Tom Wachman (IRL) & Hawaii
2. Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) & Heartbeat W
3. Juan Manuel Luzardo (IRI) & Guizmo du Riou
4. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & VDL Mourinho
5. Tiffany Foster (CAN) & Steadfast
6. Brian Morton (CAN) & Baton Rouge
7. Jos Verlooy (BEL) & Etundel de Marocy
8. Vanessa Hood (ISR)  BW Graphik
9. Carly Campbell-Cooper (CAN) & U2 Westleven Z
10. Blythe Karolyi (USA) & Theo Duc T&L Z

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Competition on the International Ring on a track designed by FEI Course Designer Santiago Varela of Spain, 66 horse and rider combinations undertook the challenge.

The one-round competition measured 565 metres and featured 12 obstacles (14 efforts), all to be completed within the 85-second time allowed.

Both the Devil’s Dyke and the open water were offered as options on course, providing competitors with an early opportunity to consider strategies ahead of the Sun Life Derby later in the week.

Only round under 70 seconds

Speed and precision were the keys to success, and Daniel Coyle and Calippo 57 demonstrated exactly what it takes to come out on top. The pair delivered the only round under the 70-second mark, stopping the clock in an impressive 69.09 seconds to secure victory.

Great Britain’s Charlie Jones claimed second place with a time of 70.86 seconds, while America’s Melody Liu rounded out the podium.

Top 10 AKITA Drilling Cup 1.45m

1. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Calippo 57
2. Charlie Jones (GBR) & Capitale 6
3. Melody Liu (USA) & Napoleon Van Den Dael
4. Carly Campbell-Cooper (CAN) & Baretino PS
5. Zoe Brown (AUS) & Unchained 2
6. Rupert Carl Winkelmann (GER) & Imodo
7. Kyle King (CAN) & Kayenne Z
8. Brian Morton (CAN) & Baton Rouge
9. Jesus Francisco Orantes Haua (MEX) & Qualitissimo PS
10. Mark Bluman (ISR) & Hastella

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The competition in the International Ring, and the final qualifying opportunity for the AON Grand Prix, saw 63 horse-and-rider combinations take on the challenge of the Canadian Utilities Cup 1.55m.

A fault-free round while staying within the 80-second time allowed was required to reach the jump-off round.

On a course designed by FEI Course Designer Anderson Lima of Mexico, 13 combinations secured their spot in the shortened jump-off.

Fast clear gives Farrel and Coyle the win

Daniel Coyle demonstrated exactly why he is considered one of the world’s top show jumpers. Aboard Farrel, Coyle delivered a spectacular jump-off performance, stopping the clock in a blistering 40.64 seconds while leaving all the rails in place.

His winning time proved more than one second faster than second-place finishers Lillie Keenan (USA) and Kick On.

Coyle’s fellow Irishman Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky rounded out the podium in third.

With another international victory added to his impressive resume, Coyle and Farrel once again showcased the speed, precision, and partnership required to succeed at the highest level of the sport.

“This arena and this place is very unique”

On returning to Spruce Meadows in 2026, Coyle admitted:

“I could go on for days about what I love about Spruce Meadows, but everybody kind of knows that now. The biggest thing for me here is that I get to know my horses even better, my younger ones especially, and my older horses that I know so well.”

“This arena and this place is very unique and you don’t just ride like you ride everywhere else, it’s two gears faster and the jumps are twice as long as they are anywhere else.”

Top 10 Canadian Utilities Cup 1.55m

1. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Farrel
2. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Kick On
3. Conor Swail (IRL) & Clonterm Obolensky
4. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Anton
5. Gabriel de Matos Machado (BRA) & Legaland Sandro
6. Conor Swail (IRL) & Casturano
7. Hilary Scott (AUS) & Lola
8. Mark Bluman (COL) & Genial de B’Neville
9. Vaclav Sanek (CZE) & Quintin
10. Katie Laurie (NZL) & ZF Chacco Rio

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In the Mercer Cup in the All Canada Ring, the Irishman was among 33 combinations taking on the course designed by Irish FEI Course Designer Tom Holden.

With eight horse and rider combinations successfully delivering clears in the opening round to advance to the second, it was Coyle and Nord Face VDL who eventually came out on top with a clear round in 35.24 seconds to secure Mercer Cup victory.

Kyle King was runner-up aboard Ninja BF, with New Zealand’s Katie Laurie completing the podium with Miss Montreal P.

All-Irish Podium in The Recon Metal Cup

A second victory on the board for the Derry rider came with a win aboard Farrel in The Recon Metal Cup 1.55m.

A key qualifying competition for the RBC Grand Prix of Canada, the class drew 46 entries to the International Ring. FEI Course Designer Olaf Petersen Jr.’s 605-metre track, featuring 13 obstacles (16 efforts), and a time allowed of 91 seconds, saw only 12 combinations progress to the jump-off.

Aboard his trusted mare Farrel, Coyle produced a brilliant clear round, stopping the timers in 38.63 seconds to secure top spot on the podium.

Coyle also took the runner-up spot with Urville Z, while Conor Swail completed an all-Irish podium with Clonterm Obolensky in third.

Swail took the runner-up position in the Francis Family Cup 1.50m with Kazelli VDL, behind Belgian Jos Verlooy and Parise Van Den Dael.

Spruce Meadows “one of the best places”

A regular visitor to Spruce Meadows, Daniel Coyle admitted after his second victory at the venue this week:

“Spruce Meadows is great. You come here for the four tournaments and you stay in one place, which we don’t get to do much. The horses can grow every week and you can jump a bigger class or a smaller class depending how your week is going so it’s a really big thing in our schedule.”

“We plan to come every year, because we get to know the horses a little better before we go on tour but not only that, Spruce Meadows is one of the best places in the world.”

‘National’ Double for Coyle and Nord Face VDL

On Saturday, Coyle and Nord Face VDL took their second win together at the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ show, when they claimed The Maritime Travel Cup.

A course designed by Tom Holden attracted 37 starters with eight progressing to the jump-off, before Coyle and Nord Face VDL proved quickest with a clear round in 37.59 seconds.

Kyle King and Ninja, BF, runner-up to Coyle and Nord Face VDL a few days previously in The Mercer Cup, had to settle for the same position again this time, while Emily Esau Williams from the USA, riding Air Jordan Delacense, took third.

Farrel third in Grand Prix of Canada

The RBC Grand Prix of Canada, presented by Rolex, took centre stage on Saturday, welcoming 31 horse and rider combinations from around the world to the iconic International Ring.

Designed by FEI Course Designer Olaf Petersen Jr., the 570-metre first-round track featured 14 obstacles (17 efforts) and a time allowed of 86 seconds. Only six combinations representing six different nations, including Daniel Coyle, successfully navigated the course without fault to advance to the jump-off.

On his first-ever visit to Spruce Meadows, Colombia’s Mark Bluman rose to the occasion aboard Landon de Nyze, delivering one of only two double-clear performances of the day. The pair stopped the clock in 44.44 seconds to secure victory.

Belgian Jos Verlooy and Nixon Van’t Meulenhof also delivered a fault-free jump-off effort, finishing second in 49.02 seconds.

Rounding out the podium was in-form Daniel Coyle and Farrel, whose blistering jump-off time of 41.99 seconds proved the fastest of the afternoon, but a single rail down left the pair on four faults, earning third place despite their impressive speed.

Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky finished inside the top-10, in eighth place.

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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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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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