<h2>The Headline Act: Master vs Magician</h2>
The competition sees Richard Vogel's United Touch S, fresh from victory in Lyon, facing off against Steve Guerdat's Dynamix de Belheme, currently the third highest-rated horse in the world. This venue holds special significance for both combinations - it was here in 2022 that United Touch claimed his first World Cup victory, with Dynamix finishing joint-second. Since then, both horses have established themselves among the sport's elite, with Dynamix claiming Individual Olympic silver and United Touch adding numerous major victories to his record. Both horses are among the Top 10 Elo-rated horses in the world.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/5b959535-f8e6-4107-bb02-d88a5d83f7e7.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="Overview Show #7">
Vogel's World Cup record is particularly noteworthy - from just three starts in the Western European League, he has secured two victories and one second place. United Touch S maintains an extraordinary record of never being beaten in a jump-off when leaving all rails up.
<h2>Strong Supporting Cast</h2>
While the spotlight may be on the headline pair, the field is deep with talent. Harrie Smolders brings Monaco N.O.P., seeking to convert one of his eleven second-place finishes into victory. Defending champion Kevin Staut returns with Beau de Laubry Z, while other notable entries include Martin Fuchs with Connor Jei and Jana Wargers with Dorette.
The indoor arena should provide the perfect setting for what promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between the measured mastery of Guerdat and the magical touch of Vogel, with a strong supporting cast ready to capitalize on any mistakes from the favorites. The competition will not only impact the Western European League standings but could provide valuable clues about form heading into the major indoor shows at Geneva and London later in the season.
&nbsp;

Strong Head-to-Head in Stuttgart

Main

<h2>Iron Dames Rider Claims First World Cup Victory</h2>
CSI5*-W Verona
Sophie Hinners secured her first World Cup victory in Verona riding Iron Dames My Prins. The German rider, who only began partnering with the horse in July, demonstrated the rapid development of their partnership with a masterful performance. The win adds another chapter to the growing success story of the Iron Dames riders this season.
Britain's Ben Maher continued his exceptional recent form, claiming second place with the rapidly-rising 10-year-old Point Break. The pair's performance follows their 160 victory in Lyon the previous weekend, and notably, Point Break has now climbed to within just two Elo points of Greya as the highest-rated 10-year-old in the world. With a career clear rate of 52% at 5* 160 level (13 clears from 25 rounds), Point Break is showing all the hallmarks of a future superstar.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/d6afa660-c44b-4991-90d7-a61215f83ebb.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="1">
<h2> Home Victory Delights Mexican Crowd</h2>
CSI5* Monterrey
The Mexican leg of the World Cup series saw home rider Andres Azcarraga claim an emotional first 5* 160 victory with Contendros 2. The consistent Emanuele Camilli and Odense Odeveld secured another second place finish - their fourth at this level. The 10-year-old Odense Odeveld continues to impress, now ranking as the sixth highest-rated horse of his age globally.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/d95a7b0c-847d-4051-b813-88f8d8eb6070.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="2">
Christian Ahlmann's promising nine-year-old Dourkhan Hero Z, a former World Championship silver medalist as a seven-year-old, made a significant breakthrough by entering the top 10 rated horses of his age category after two fourth-place finishes in the 5* classes.
<h2> Matz Makes His Mark</h2>
CSI5*-W Toronto
Alex Matz achieved a milestone victory in Toronto, securing his first 5* 160 win aboard Ikigai. The American rider dominated the show, also collecting victories in the World Cup qualifier with Ikigai and additional wins on Cashew CR. Canada's Tiffany Foster took second place with Electrique, while McLain Ward and Ilex completed the podium.

Breakthrough Victories: Three Continents, Three Winners

The event showcased both emerging stars and established champions, with particularly notable performances from three outstanding combinations.
<h2>United Touch S &amp; Richard Vogel: Mastery in Motion</h2>
Richard Vogel and United Touch S claimed a remarkable victory in the World Cup qualifier, demonstrating why they're one of the sport's most exciting combinations.&nbsp;
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/ad10dde3-b6b5-447b-ba6c-0c9c90512ad8.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="3">
United Touch S, now rated sixth in the world with an Elo of 775, continues his impressive ascent through the rankings. At 12 years old, he stands as one of the sport's most promising talents, with only Dubai du Cedre, Elektric Blue P, Dynamix De Belheme, Beauville Z N.O.P., and King Edward currently rated higher.
<h2>Monaco N.O.P.: The Bridesmaid's Tale Continues</h2>
Harry Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. added two more second-place finishes to their remarkable record in Lyon - both in the World Cup qualifier and the Grand Prix. These results brought Monaco's total to 11 second-place finishes at 5* 1.60m level without a win, an extraordinary statistic that has become one of the sport's most talked-about narratives.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/8b8d3088-779a-4557-a5df-f92489ae237a.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="4">
Despite the lack of outright victories, Monaco's achievements shouldn't be understated. Only six horses have achieved a higher Elo rating than Monaco N.O.P. over the past decade. He previously reached an impressive peak rating of 790, only King Edward (822 in 2024), Explosion W (804 in 2021), Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (804 in 2023), Casall ASK (796 in 2017), Fit For Fun 13 (793 in 2019) &amp; H&amp;M All In (793 in 2022) have ever achieved a higher rating.
<h2> Foxy de la Roque: Rising Star Claims Grand Prix Victory</h2>
Victor Bettendorf and Foxy de la Roque delivered a stunning performance to win the Grand Prix, marking their third 5* 1.60m victory from just four attempts at this level. At just nine years old, this mare has shown exceptional talent and consistency:
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/08d48651-962d-47e8-8d1f-466f4c5a4f38.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="5">
The win in Lyon was particularly significant given the quality of the field, establishing Foxy de la Roque as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport. While the combination couldn't replicate their success in the World Cup class, their overall performance in Lyon further confirmed their status as rising stars in international show jumping.
With major events like Geneva on the horizon, all three combinations have positioned themselves as serious contenders for future championships. The emergence of young talents like United Touch S and Foxy de la Roque, alongside the consistent excellence of Monaco N.O.P., suggests an exciting future for the sport at the highest level.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Lyon World Cup Review: A Tale of Champions and Near-Misses

The Eurexpo arena crackles with anticipation as Swiss Olympic medallists Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat headline today's Lyon World Cup qualifier. Fuchs seeks a historic fourth Lyon victory with the dominant Leone Jei, while Olympic silver medallist Guerdat leads a field packed with talent. Defending champion Gregory Wathelet, German sensation Richard Vogel, and World Cup veteran Lorenzo De Luca, on his milestone 50th qualifier start, ensure this latest chapter of Lyon's rich jumping history will be nothing short of spectacular.
<h2>SWISS SHOWDOWN</h2>
The powerhouse Swiss duo of Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat headline the Lyon World Cup qualifier. Fuchs brings the form, Guerdat brings the medals, but who will take the spoils?
Martin Fuchs&rsquo; Leone Jei and Steve Guerdat&rsquo;s Dynamix De Belheme have clashed seven times at the top level in 2024. Leone Jei has come out ahead on six occasions. The one exception was Dynamix De Belheme&rsquo;s individual silver medal at the Paris Olympics. According to the EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre, Leone Jei slightly has the upper-hand today. This combination has more experience and is more proven in a jump-off situation than Dynamix de Belheme
&nbsp;
<h2>LYON LEGENDS</h2>
Home favourites Simon Delestre and Kevin Staut have taken valuable World Cup points out of Lyon, but no one can match the strike rate of Martin Fuchs.
Martin Fuchs has taken 75pts out of the Lyon World Cup Qualifier in just five appearances since 2010. This includes three consecutive wins in 2018, 2019 and 2021, the 2020 leg being canceled due to Covid-19. &nbsp; Simon Delestre has taken the most points from this leg in the same time frame. His tally is 79pts but this comes from 11 appearances compared to only 5 from Fuchs. Delestre won this leg in 2017.&nbsp; Kevin Staut is the third most successful rider in terms of World Cup points with 74 from 12 appearances. He has made six jump-offs in this time (50%) but didn&rsquo;t win the Lyon leg on any of those six occasions. &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2> BELGIUM&rsquo;S BEST&nbsp;</h2>
Defending champ, Gregory Wathelet, could face his strongest opposition from teammates Pieter Devos and Gilles Thomas, both riding two of the most exciting young horses in the sport.&nbsp;
Defending champions Gregory Wathelet and Bond Jamesbond De Hay won the Oslo World Cup leg two weeks ago and are obvious contenders, but their 2024 clear rate at the higher levels of 44% is eclipsed by two fellow countrymen.&nbsp; Pieter Devos brings Casual DV Z, the nine-year-old that was the highest rated in the world for much of 2024 and has jumped 14 clears from 24 rounds (58%) this season.&nbsp; Gilles Thomas brings the highly regarded 10-year-old stallion, Ermitage Kalone, who has jumped 11 clears from 16 rounds (69%) in 2024 and is amongst the most clinical horses at the top level of the sport. &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2> THE FEARED FIRST-TIMER</h2>
Hero of the Longines League of Nations final, Richard Vogel, will jump his first ever Lyon World Cup qualifier. But history says he could well win it.
Richard Vogel has only jumped in two five-star Western European League World Cup qualifiers, but his record is quite exceptional. He finished second in the 2023 Leipzig qualifier on Looping Luna and subsequently won the 2022 Stuttgart qualifier with today&rsquo;s mount, United Touch S.&nbsp; The young German rider is making waves in the sport and adding a third podium in only his third Western European League qualifier would be no surprise. If he makes the jump-off and jumps clear, then United Touch S, known for his huge stride, has never been beaten on speed at 160 level.
<h2> LUCKY NUMBER 50 FOR DE LUCA</h2>
Italian star Lorenzo De Luca is looking to claim his first ever World Cup qualifier win at his 50th attempt this week in Lyon.
With a five-star 160 win already under their belt this season in the LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard, and numerous top 5 finishes at the highest level, Lorenzo De Luca has shown incredible form with the upwardly mobile Denver De Talma. But despite a vast array of top level career wins, De Luca is yet to top the podium in a World Cup qualifier from his 49 previous attempts.&nbsp;
While that first win will be sweet wherever it comes, De Luca&rsquo;s next stop after Lyon will likely be the next World Cup leg in Verona. Winning on his milestone 50th appearance this weekend, or saving it for his home crowd on the next leg, it is only a matter of time before Lorenzo De Luca performs a lap of honour at a World Cup qualifier. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/5bcf7fe3-9397-42c1-9cf4-c5f3d32f3200.png?width=1340&amp;height=1880" alt="Gkv Im Top Win Chances for the World Cup of Lyon (2)">

Who Wins in Lyon? Swiss Stars Headline Star-Studded Field

In the elite world of show jumping, King Edward continues to reign supreme, maintaining his position as the highest-rated horse with an extraordinary Elo rating of 814. The Swedish star, under Henrik von Eckermann, has demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout 2024, achieving 16 clear rounds from 22 attempts at five-star 160cm level competitions &ndash; an impressive 73% success rate.
<h2>THE TEN: The Top 10 Elo-rated horses in the world</h2>
The competition at the highest level remains fierce, with several exceptional combinations challenging for top honors. Following King Edward's commanding lead, Steve Guerdat's mount Dynamix de Belh&egrave;me holds second place with an Elo rating of 787. The Swiss combination has proven their worth with seven clear rounds from nine attempts, showcasing their exceptional consistency at major championships.
Beauville Z, partnered with Maikel van der Vleuten, secures the third position. The Olympic medalist has maintained strong performances throughout the season, most recently showing their class with a double clear in the LLN Final in Barcelona. Max K&uuml;hner's Electric Blue P holds fourth place, having delivered an outstanding 12 clear rounds from 16 attempts, translating to a 75% clear rate at the highest level.
Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei have perhaps the most remarkable statistics of the season, achieving an extraordinary 85% clear round rate with 11 successful rounds from 13 attempts. Their only faults of the year came at the Paris Olympics, and they've since rebounded with a magnificent victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Calgary.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/512addc2-bb55-409e-ab41-35db04fda040.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="2">
&nbsp;
The latter half of the top ten features Dubai du Cedre, who has recently moved from Julien Epaillard to Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmerman&rsquo;s string, Ben Maher's Dallas Vegas Batilly, and United Touch S with Richard Vogel. United Touch S&rsquo;s record is particularly impressive in five-star 160 jump-offs. The bay stallion has been unbeatable in any jump-off he has jumped clear in.
Completing the top ten are Donatello d'Auge with Julien Epaillard and Daniel Coyle's Legacy. Legacy has earned particular recognition as the horse of the LLN series, producing five clears over the season with double clears in Ocala and Barcelona.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/053f1c4c-6cf0-4856-8efc-c7dcf6299088.png?width=2000&amp;height=600" alt="1">
&nbsp;
<h2>Rising Stars and Future Prospects</h2>
The future of show jumping looks bright with several younger horses making their mark on the sport. Kent Farrington's Greya has emerged as the standout among the younger generation, achieving the remarkable feat of being the highest-rated 10-year-old in the world and securing the 12th position in the overall rankings.
One of the most exciting emerging talents is Dexter de Kerglenn, ridden by Jeanne Sadran. At just 11 years old, this combination has already broken into the top 20 highest-rated horses globally, surpassing established stars like McLain Ward's Callas and Harrie Smolders' Monaco. Their achievements include a commanding LGCT Grand Prix victory on home soil in Paris and an exceptional double clear round in the tough Brussels Nations Cup. With these impressive results, they're increasingly being viewed as a strong prospect for the French team heading into the European Championships.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/62745506-9f8c-44da-903f-9d28a2bfa66e.png?width=1440&amp;height=1296" alt="Hgm Pr Top 10 Elo Rated Horses in the World">
Rankings and statistics current as of 1 November 2024
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/33705932/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/000000/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" sandbox="" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Strong Head-to-Head in Stuttgart

Top Stories

Strong Head-to-Head in Stuttgart

Breakthrough Victories: Three Continents, Three Winners

Lyon World Cup Review: A Tale of Champions and Near-Misses

Who Wins in Lyon? Swiss Stars Headline Star-Studded Field

Show Jumping's Elite: Current Rankings and Monthly Overview

Storystream

Featured Ratings