<p>Since its inaugural edition in 1979, the FEI Jumping World Cup Final has been one of the most iconic and sought-after indoor titles in show jumping. With elite riders, unforgettable rivalries, and legendary horses, it has written some of the sport's most memorable chapters. As we head into the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals in Basel, it's the perfect moment to look back at the riders and nations who have shaped its legacy.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/956967d6-a125-467c-969b-36865756aa52.png?width=1548&amp;height=2868" alt="Qec Gu All the World Cup Finals Champions Since 1979"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>The Legends Club: Riders with Three Titles</h1>
<p><em>Only five riders in the event's 45-year history have managed to claim the trophy three times.</em></p>
<h3>Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)</h3>
<p>Rodrigo Pessoa is widely regarded as one of the World Cup Finals&rsquo; greatest icons. He remains the only rider to have ever claimed three consecutive titles, a feat he achieved with the legendary chestnut stallion, Baloubet du Rouet. He is one of just two horses who have ever won three World Cup Finals in their career.</p>
<p>The pair came dangerously close to claiming a fourth consecutive victory in the 2001 Gothenburg Finals, falling just short in a thrilling two-combination jump-off against Markus Fuchs and Tinka&rsquo;s Boy in Gothenburg.</p>
<h3><br>Marcus Ehning (GER)</h3>
<p>Marcus Ehning has etched his name in World Cup history with three titles won aboard four different horses over seven years. He first triumphed in 2003 on Anka 191 in Las Vegas, followed by a 2006 win in Kuala Lumpur with Sandro Boy. In 2010, he returned to the top of the podium with the help of Plot Blue and Noltes Kuechengirl.</p>
<p>Remarkably, Marcus is the only three-time champion competing in the 2025 Final&mdash;and the only rider with the chance to become a four-time winner.</p>
<h3><br>Steve Guerdat (SUI)</h3>
<p>Steve Guerdat is the most recent addition to the three-title club, and just like Marcus Ehning showcased his consistency with three different horses. His first victory dates back to exactly a decade ago when he rode Albf&uuml;hren&rsquo;s Paille to the win in Las Vegas. The following year, he rode Corbinian to World Cup Final victory in Gothenburg to score back-to-back wins. For his third win, Guerdat counted on Alamo to take the win in the birthplace of World Cup Finals in Gothenburg.</p>
<p>Though he qualified for the 2025 Final in Basel, Guerdat will miss the event due to a recent surgery that has sidelined him for several months.</p>
<h3><br>Hugo Simon (AUT)</h3>
<p>The first rider to ever win three World Cup Final titles was Austrian rider Hugo Simon. He was the winner of the inaugural World Cup finals in Gothenburg in 1979 riding Gladstone. Then followed a 17-year wait for his next win of this championship. Aboard E.T. FRH, he took back-to-back victories in the 1996 Geneva Finals and the 1997 Gothenburg Finals.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)</h3>
<p>Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum is the only female rider to ever win three World Cup Finals. For all three victories, she counted on her trusty partner, Shutterfly. They won the Finals in Las Vegas in 2005 and 2009, but also claimed a win in 2008 in Gothenburg.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>Defending Champion Returns</h1>
<p>Henrik von Eckermann captured the world when he captured back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 in the saddle of the world&rsquo;s top-rated horse, King Edward.</p>
<p>In 2025, Henrik returns to chase a third consecutive title&mdash;but this time without his iconic partner. His chosen mount for Basel is Iliana. Can she rise to the occasion and help Henrik equal Rodrigo Pessoa&rsquo;s historic three-peat from a quarter-century ago?</p>
<h1><br>Nation vs Nation: USA leads the charge</h1>
<p>In the 44 editions of the Final to date, the United States has emerged victorious 11 times&mdash;claiming a full quarter of the titles. Germany trails just behind with 10 wins, keeping the transatlantic rivalry alive and well.</p>
<h1><br>Looking Ahead to Basel 2025</h1>
<p>As anticipation builds for Basel 2025, follow our channels for exclusive updates, storylines, and data insights on the combinations vying for their place in World Cup history.</p>

45 Years of FEI Jumping World Cup Finals: Legends, Streaks & Basel 2025

Main

<p>This week on the EquiRatings Jumping Podcast, Diarmuid and Charlotte took us straight to the heart of Mexico City for the next leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour. But this wasn&rsquo;t just your usual preview episode. With big names elsewhere and a prize pot of &euro;720,000 still up for grabs, this Grand Prix has turned into one of the biggest career opportunities for a whole group of riders. It&rsquo;s the kind of weekend where someone could change their life.</p>
<h2><br>Calendar Chaos = Surprise Advantage</h2>
<p>Mexico City&rsquo;s spot on the calendar this year makes it feel like the quiet kid at the back of the class&mdash;easy to overlook. With World Cup Finals in Basel, Rolex Week in Wellington, and horses strategically staying in place, many of the sport&rsquo;s usual superstars are elsewhere. That&rsquo;s left the door wide open in Mexico for some lesser-known combinations to make their mark&mdash;and potentially take home a huge chunk of prize money.</p>
<h2><br>&euro;720,000 Reasons to Care</h2>
<p>With only one horse in Mexico ranked inside the top 50 on the Elo ratings, the field is wide open. Diarm and Charlotte talked us through just how rare this kind of setup is: horses with Elos in the 700s&mdash;normally just outside the spotlight&mdash;are now in with a real shot. Denis Lynch&rsquo;s Vistogrand, the top-rated horse in the class, would be middle of the pack in Wellington. But here? He&rsquo;s the one to beat.</p>
<h2><br>Who&rsquo;s Hot? The Podium Picks Are In</h2>
<p>Charlotte&rsquo;s calling it: Carlos Hank Guerreiro and H5 Porthos Maestro WH are her pick for the win. They were 4th here last year and are coming off a win in Wellington. Home soil, great form, and proven success at the venue&mdash;what&rsquo;s not to love?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Diarm took a little longer (a lot longer), but finally settled on Canadian duo Kyle Timm and Candar Mail. With a stellar clear round record and strong GCL form, they&rsquo;re a big podium threat. Add in veterans like Maikel van der Vleuten and up-and-comers like Nadia Peter Steiner with Mila, and you&rsquo;ve got a fascinating field.</p>
<h2><br>Why This Matters</h2>
<p>This isn&rsquo;t just about prize money. It&rsquo;s about giving a platform to riders who might not always get the spotlight. These are the shows where careers can turn. From podium picks to personal milestones, Diarm and Charlotte remind us that moments like this are what sport is all about&mdash;underdogs rising, dreams within reach, and a new name about to break through.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;🎧 Want to hear who else made the cut? Who didn&rsquo;t? And who Diarm tried (and failed) to talk himself out of picking? Listen to the full episode now and join the conversation as Mexico serves up one of the most open Grand Prix weekends of the year.</p>
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PODCAST: When Opportunity Knocks in Mexico: Big Money, Open Field, and a Chance to Shine

<p>The $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix is set to deliver one of the most exciting show jumping spectacles of the year. As part of the prestigious Rolex Series, this marquee event draws the sport&rsquo;s elite to the spotlight with a huge prize fund, a technical course, and career-defining prestige. But who has the edge heading into Saturday night? EquiRatings crunched the numbers to bring you the most accurate predictions in the game.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/65f02c56-d9fc-41c7-afbb-ba17eff66a01.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Jumping   Us Equestrian Open Final Graphics (5)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Kent Farrington &amp; Greya</h2>
<p>Kent Farrington &amp; Greya will be among the favourites flying the US flag in the Rolex Grand Prix of Wellington. The pair have already made history this WEF season, with Greya becoming the first horse ever to win two five-star Grands Prix in a single Wellington season. They&rsquo;ve started 2025 with a flawless five-star 160 record &ndash; 2 clears from 2 starts, both wins &ndash; and Greya ranks inside the Top 10 rated horses in the world. They top the prediction model this week with a 12% win chance and a 60% chance of jumping clear.</p>
<h2>Ben Maher &amp; Dallas Vegas Batilly&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Set to go last on Saturday night after a win in the WEF Challenge Round 12, Ben Maher brings Olympic mount Dallas Vegas Batilly to the US Equestrian Open Jumping Final. This pair has jumped clear in their last two five-star Grand Prix appearances at WEF and were instrumental in helping Team GB secure Olympic Team Gold last summer in Paris. Their 7% win chance places them firmly among the top contenders.</p>
<h2>Henrik von Eckermann &amp; King Edward</h2>
<p>Henrik von Eckermann has been the World #1 for 32 consecutive months and arrives with the best-rated horse in the world: King Edward. On a staggering Elo of 814, King Edward is unmatched, and their 2025 form speaks for itself &ndash; Top 5 in all three five-star Grands Prix they've contested this year, maintaining a perfect five-star 160 record in 2025. In 2024, they jumped 19 clears from 26 rounds at 160 level (73%). A position as favourite this week is no surprise.</p>
<h2><br>Karl Cook &amp; Caracole de la Roque&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Karl Cook &amp; Caracole de la Roque were breakout stars in 2024, capturing wins in the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome and World Cup of Arcadia. Key to the U.S. Team Silver in Paris, they&rsquo;ve returned to the top level after a brief break. Cook was on the podium here last year with a different mount &ndash; and has a 6% chance to improve on that result this weekend.</p>
<h2>Christian Kukuk &amp; Checker 47</h2>
<p>The reigning Olympic Champions return to Wellington, the site of one of their greatest wins just 12 months ago. Since then, they&rsquo;ve taken the LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid and Olympic Individual Gold in Paris. They&rsquo;ve already notched a Grand Prix win here this season and hold a 6% win chance with a 49% chance of making the jump-off.</p>
<h2>McLain Ward &amp; Ilex&nbsp;</h2>
<p>A legend at WEF, McLain Ward has over 60 international victories at this venue. Partnered with Olympic mount Ilex, they were key to the U.S. Team Silver in Paris and recently jumped a double clear to help the U.S. win the Longines League of Nations in Ocala. They are among the favourites for the home nation on Saturday night.</p>
<h2>Laura Kraut &amp; Bisquetta</h2>
<p>Laura Kraut rides Bisquetta, a combination that jumped to eighth in last year&rsquo;s Rolex Grand Prix of Wellington. Bisquetta has been incredibly reliable, jumping nine rounds at 150 level or above in top company without touching a pole. They're a potential surprise package this weekend.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p><br>There are plenty of other top names and rising stars in the field, each with a story worth knowing. Check out the <a href="https://digital.equiratings.com/view/64858650/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fan Guide</a> &ndash; your go-to resource for stats, stories, and insights on every combination in the class. Whether you&rsquo;re a die-hard fan or just getting into the sport, it&rsquo;s the perfect way to follow all the action.</p>
<p>Check out the entire Prediction Centre <a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/458" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Who Will Win the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix? 

<p>To mark the start of 2025, we gathered predictions from Nicole Brown, Diarm Byrne, and Peter "Spike the Vet" Milligan&mdash;three voices who know the sport inside out. From championship frontrunners to rising stars and world number one contenders, here&rsquo;s who they&rsquo;re tipping to take centre stage this season.</p>
<div><strong>European Champion Predictions</strong><br>Who takes the title at Blenheim this September? With the Europeans returning to British soil, it&rsquo;s a big opportunity for a home-team win.</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Yasmin Ingham</strong> and <em>Banzai du Loir</em> &ndash; Diarm&rsquo;s pick for redemption after Paris. Big Aachen form and a proven record at Blenheim.</li>
<li><strong>Ros Canter</strong> and <em>Izilot DHI</em> &ndash; Nicole is backing the five-star winner who&rsquo;s been sub-20 at Blenheim before. A low-scoring threat.</li>
<li><strong>Laura Collett</strong> and <em>London 52</em> &ndash; Spike sees this as the moment for the 16-year-old superstar to finally land individual gold.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Number One by Year-End</strong><br>Who finishes 2025 at the top of the FEI rankings? This one sparked debate.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Tim Price</strong> &ndash; Spike and Nicole are in agreement here. With a deep string of horses at the top level, Tim could rack up the points across multiple five-stars.</li>
<li><strong>Harry Meade</strong> &ndash; Diarm is all-in. With <em>Annaghmore Valoner</em>, <em>Superstition</em>, and a strong backup cast, he thinks Harry will win big&mdash;and still not get picked for a British team.</li>
<li><strong>Boyd Martin</strong> &ndash; Nicole&rsquo;s wildcard pick. Between <em>Commando 3</em>, <em>Fedarman B</em>, and rising U.S. horsepower, he could climb high.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Young Guns to Watch (22 &amp; under)</strong><br>Not just names for the future&mdash;these riders are ready to make waves this season.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Oscar Fitzgerald</strong> &ndash; Nicole picked one of the UK&rsquo;s most exciting juniors. With a strong string and results across the board, he&rsquo;s aiming for the Junior Europeans.</li>
<li><strong>Tom Nestor</strong> &ndash; Diarm looked back at his Irish roots for his pick of Ireland&rsquo;s rising star. Junior silver medallist at Strzegom with&nbsp;<em>Cooley Diamond Dancer</em>. Quietly building serious form.</li>
<li><strong>Izzy Cook</strong> &ndash; Spike went with a rider already on the radar after individual bronze at Young Riders. Look for her to step up again with multiple horses at advanced.</li>
</ul>
<div><strong>Final Thoughts</strong><br>2025 is shaping up to be a defining season. Whether it&rsquo;s redemption stories, long-awaited titles, or breakthrough performances, the stage is set for a big year. These riders aren&rsquo;t just part of the conversation&mdash;they&rsquo;re ready to lead it.</div>
<p>Take note. Follow closely. These are your riders to watch.</p>
<p>Want more bold predictions and behind-the-scenes picks? Catch the full breakdown on the <a href="https://podfollow.com/equiratings-eventing-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Eventing Podcast.</a></p>
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Riders to Watch in 2025: The Ones Set to Shape the Season

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p class="" data-start="1032" data-end="1452">The entries are in &mdash; and the five-star field is packed. <strong>Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH</strong> lead the headlines as the reigning Olympic champs return to Kentucky. But not everyone on the pod was fully won over. While his record is nearly untouchable, fischerChipmunk still seems to lack that emotional fan bond some past greats inspired &mdash; a sentiment echoed by several contributors. Still, respect for his quality is unanimous. He set the record winning score at CCI5* level here and a win would make it 5 for Michael at the venue.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="" data-start="1454" data-end="1872">Enter <strong>JL Dublin and Tom McEwen</strong>, the Gemma Redrup pick for redemption. Twice second at Kentucky, Dublin looks ready to finally claim his five-star crown. Strong in all three phases and heartbreakingly close last year, the team agreed: if anyone is poised to dethrone Chipmunk, it&rsquo;s Tom and Dublin. But don&rsquo;t sleep on <strong>Commando 3</strong>. Boyd Martin&rsquo;s rising star could give the U.S. a fairytale win if he delivers across the board.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1874" data-end="2222"><strong>Falco and Tim Price</strong>, as consistent as ever, are back. <strong>Harry Meade</strong> brings a string that could thrive if conditions turn tough. And U.S. talent is on the rise: Annie Bishop pointed out a wave of first-time five-star riders entering the spotlight, a huge sign of depth and future promise for American eventing.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2224" data-end="2568">And if the five-star wasn't enough, the four-star short is a headline-maker in its own right. <strong>Caroline Pamukcu a</strong>nd <strong>HSH Blake</strong> top the Prediction Center and could be building toward something even bigger: Aachen 2026. Watch for Hallie Coon and Cute Girl and a quietly strong group of up-and-comers ready to make noise.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2570" data-end="3002"><strong data-start="2570" data-end="2589">Call to Action:</strong><br data-start="2589" data-end="2592">This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Kentuckys in recent memory &mdash; with Olympic champions, fan favorites, and future stars all in the mix. Want to see the full list of contenders? <br><br><a href="https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/eleven-olympians-from-six-nations-highlight-impressive-list-of-entries-for-2025-defender-kentucky-three-day-event-presented-by-mars-equestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out the official entry list on the Kentucky website</a> and <a href="https://pod.fo/e/2bf324">listen to the full Inside Kentucky podcast episode here</a>. The countdown is officially on.<br><br><br></p>
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45 Years of FEI Jumping World Cup Finals: Legends, Streaks & Basel 2025

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45 Years of FEI Jumping World Cup Finals: Legends, Streaks & Basel 2025

PODCAST: When Opportunity Knocks in Mexico: Big Money, Open Field, and a Chance to Shine

Who Will Win the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix?

Riders to Watch in 2025: The Ones Set to Shape the Season

Defender Kentucky Entries Release Show

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