From Tryon to El Jadida: The Five-Star Entries

Two five-star Grands Prix this weekend, on two continents, with two very different entry lists. Major League Show Jumping goes to Tryon International in North Carolina, where seven of the entered horses carry an Elo of 750 or more. Across the Atlantic, El Jadida runs at CSI5*-W for the first time, closing the Morocco Royal Tour with the Grand Prix on Sunday 18 October.

On paper, Tryon centres on the two highest-rated riders entered. El Jadida is more open. Its top-rated entry sits at 744, and four horses have a strong case.

Tryon: the Roadrunners have the top-rated entry

James Kann Cruz is the most experienced horse entered at either show and the best rated. With Shane Sweetnam he has jumped 81 rounds at CSI5* 1.60m and major championship level. He has gone clear in 46 of them, a 57% clear rate, and turned that into seven wins. His Elo of 791 is also his career high.

Sweetnam rides for the DIHP Roadrunners, and the team has depth on its entry list. Laura Kraut now rides for the Roadrunners, and Baloutinue is on 761 with five five-star wins. Daniel Coyle and Farrel sit at 750, a career high, with 11 clears from 26 rounds. McLain Ward and High Star Hero are on 740 with four five-star wins.

Farrington has two horses rated over 780

Kent Farrington has entered the next two horses on the Elo list. Greya is on 787 and has the most five-star wins of any Tryon entry, with 12 from 24 clear rounds. She was second in the Tryon Grand Prix in 2024. Toulayna is on 781 and has the best clear rate of any Tryon entry with 20 or more rounds at the level, 18 clears from 30 for 60%.

Both mares sit within two points of their career-high Elo. Whichever one Farrington starts in the Grand Prix, Team KPF has a horse who can match Sweetnam on the numbers.

Team KPF has also added Christian Kukuk. His entries include HK Carrera on 681 and Akarad Tivoli Z, who has two podium finishes from three rounds at the level.

The eight highest-rated horses on the Tryon entry list.

Team by team

The Roadrunners have four horses rated 730 or above on their entries: James Kann Cruz, Baloutinue, Farrel and High Star Hero. The Trelawny Trailblazers have three, with Lillie Keenan and Fasther on 761, Natalie Dean and Mr Boombastic on 734, and Charlotte Jacobs and Playboy JT Z on 730, a career high.

Each team’s highest-rated horse on the entry list, with its regular rider at the level. Team line-ups are confirmed closer to the class.

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El Jadida: a new five-star and an open field

Simon Delestre and Golden Boy DK top the El Jadida entries on 744, one point off their best. They have ten clears from 24 rounds, 42%, and eight podium finishes. When this pair goes clear, they are usually in the ribbons.

Edouard Schmitz brings the deepest record. Gamin van’t Naastveldhof has jumped 73 rounds at the level, more than any other horse entered in Morocco, with five wins and 12 podiums from 19 clears. The Swiss rider has also entered Quno, who has 15 clears from 41 rounds.

Abdullah Alsharbatly rides Diriyah, who has the highest peak Elo on the entries at 784. The pair have gone clear five times from eight starts at the level, with one five-star win. Ioli Mytilineou and L’Artiste de Toxandra complete the group above 700 with 15 clears from 40 rounds.

Selected horses from the El Jadida entry list.

Based on entry lists, not final start lists. Rounds, clear rates, wins and podiums are career figures at CSI5* 1.60m and major championship level. Elo is the horse’s current rating.