Elo Movers: A Record & Two New Leaders
King Edward has set new heights in the sport by breaking his own Elo record, while Casual DV Z and Greya have become the highest-rated horses of their age category.
The Longines FEI World Cup Finals had the entire jumping world in a chokehold this past week. A terrific week of jumping that was reflected in the EquiRatings Jumping Elo ratings and has brought along some interesting changes.
After winning his second consecutive World Cup Finals title, Henrik von Eckermann’s King Edward has boosted his Elo to new heights. He already held the record for highest Elo ever recorded when he entered the competition on 810, but a foot-perfect campaign in Riyadh has allowed him to boost his Elo by a whopping 9 points, completing and setting a new record Elo of 819.
King Edward is one of just three horses that have ever passed the 800 mark on the Elo ratings and the only horses to ever go higher than 804, achieved by Explosion W in 2021 and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z early in 2023.
In the latest episode of the EquiRatings Jumping Podcast, hosts Sam Watson and Charlotte Smet react to this incredible feat, available for download on main podcast platforms.
The just nine-year-old Casual DV Z was the youngest horse in the field at World Cup Finals in Riyadh this week. Thanks to a superb performance, with a highlight in Final II where the young mare produced one of just four double clears, Pieter Devos finished eighth in the overall championship.
Quite an achievement for a horse of that age, that has made her the biggest Elo climber of the week, boosting her Elo by 26 points. Currently on an Elo of 716, she is the first nine-year-old horse to pass the 700 Elo barrier this year and so strengthens her position as the current highest-rated nine-year-old horse in the world.
An accomplishment made even more special by the fact that Casual DV Z was bred by Pieter himself and he competed her mother, Just Me D, at the highest level himself too.
A bittersweet weekend for Kent Farrington in Riyadh, as he finished just beside the podium in fourth place at the World Cup Finals. Still an admirable performance from his 10-year-old mare Greya who produced some solid rounds which boosted her Elo by 10 points. A boost that allowed her to climb up the rankings and on 743 sees her overtake Zineday as the highest-rated 10-year-old horse in the world right now.
Kent chose to ride another 10-year-old in Final I, Toulayna, whose performance also allowed her to raise her Elo to 742, which makes her the joint second-highest rated 10-year-old.