Last Updated on September 5, 2025 by adminahb
Photo: Rolex Grand Slam/Ashley Neuhof
Another impressive field of 56 horse-and-rider combinations – representing no fewer than 18 nations – took to Spruce Meadows’ iconic International Ring for the second feature class of the day, the prestigious 2025 CANA Cup. Among them were three of the world’s current top 10 riders: Britain’s Ben Maher, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, and Germany’s in-form sensation Richard Vogel.
Despite the large starting line-up, only seven riders managed to master the demanding Leopoldo Palacios-designed course and produce a clear first round, earning a place in the jump-off. The final contenders included Belgium’s Philippaerts brothers, Thibault and Olivier; Austria’s Max Kühner and Markus Saurugg; Brazil’s Yuri Mansur; and the German duo of Richard Vogel and Jörne Sprehe.
Four of the seven combinations delivered double clears, but it was world number four Richard Vogel who clinched victory aboard his grey stallion Cloudio. The German rider produced a lightning-fast round to edge out compatriot Jörne Sprehe by just 0.77 seconds.
Reflecting on the confidence boost his CANA Cup victory gives him ahead of Sunday’s CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, Vogel said: “I mentioned it yesterday that I think our sport is very mental, so to have a lot of confidence is always good, and to have the feeling that things are going right for you, and things are lining up well.
“All my horses jump very well here; they really love this show, and so do I. I’m thrilled with Phenyo [Van Het Keysersbos] and Cloudio about their performances yesterday and today. I also had United Touch out in the ring this morning and he jumped very good. We had a couple of time faults, but I was very happy with the way he jumped, and he feels good. Hopefully we’re going to have a good shot on Sunday.”
Nina Mallevaey wins the ATCO Cup at her first participation
On Thursday of Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ week, 49 horse-and-rider combinations entered the iconic International Ring, each chasing the 2025 ATCO Cup crown. In a unique twist, Venezuelan veteran course designer Leopoldo Palacios set the 1976 ‘Masters’ Grand Prix track, testing competitors with a piece of show jumping history, and adding to Spruce Meadows’ 50th anniversary celebrations.
The first round’s standout performance came from France’s in-form Nina Mallevaey and her mare, My Clementine, who delivered a flawless clear in 85.02s. Joining her in the Winning Round were the next nine best partnerships: Americans Laura Kraut and Kyle King, Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez, Canadian favourite Mario Deslauriers, three-time Major winner Daniel Deusser of Germany, Belgian duo Nicola Philippaerts and Roy van Beek, Ireland’s rising star Tom Wachman, and Austria’s Max Kühner.
The Winning Round more than lived up to expectations. Only Deslauriers and Wachman picked up faults, while the remaining eight combinations all produced clear rounds within the time allowed. But once again it was Mallevaey – fresh from victory in the Rolex Grand Prix at the Brussels Stephex Masters – who proved untouchable. Guiding her chestnut mare to another faultless round, she stopped the clock at an unbeatable 46.16s. Nearly two seconds quicker than runner-up Garza Perez aboard Victer Finn DH Z, the 25-year-old underlined why she is regarded as the world’s leading U25 rider.
Rounding out the top five were Laura Kraut in third with Tres Bien Z, followed by Philippaerts and Deusser in fourth and fifth, respectively.
© 2025 Rolex – Rolex Grand Slam