Weekend Review: St. Gallen, Cannes and Spruce Meadows

Three CSI5* Grands Prix ran this weekend across St. Gallen, Cannes, and Spruce Meadows. In none of them did the horse with the highest Elo in the field take the win. The weekend belonged to combinations who were clean, fast, and ready when it counted. 

In Switzerland, Marcus Ehning capped a strong Nations Cup week with a Grand Prix win aboard Coolio 42, going clear in both rounds with the fastest second-round time. In Cannes, Abdel Saïd and Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof produced the quickest jump-off of the three venues to top a competitive field. And at Spruce Meadows, New Zealand’s Katie Laurie and Django II delivered the only clean jump-off round to take the title.

Range Rover Nations Cup of Switzerland – Friday 5 June

The Nations Cup on Friday set the tone for the week in St. Gallen. Switzerland took gold on nine penalties, with Austria second on 16 and Great Britain third on 17. The home team rode with consistency across both rounds, anchored by a double clear from Jason Smith and Picobello van’t Roosakker and strong contributions from the rest of the squad.

Britain led after round one on six penalties but a tougher second round saw them slip to third. Austria were consistent across both rounds and took a well-earned silver. Belgium had the most economical first round of any team on just four penalties, but a more difficult second round saw them finish level with Germany on 22.  

St. Gallen Grand Prix – CSIO5* 1m60 – Sunday 7 June

The St. Gallen Grand Prix ran over two rounds rather than a traditional jump-off, with the winner determined by the fastest clear in the second round. Ehning and Coolio 42 were clear in round one and produced the quickest second-round time at 46.08 seconds to take the win. Katharina Rhomberg and Colestus Cambridge were second on 46.83, and Pia Reich and PB Loewenherz third at 50.80.

Coolio 42 arrived in St. Gallen as the second-highest Elo in the field, behind Martin Fuchs and Lorde at 742. Ehning and the 13-year-old Holsteiner have 11 wins and 20 podiums at CSI5* 160cm level and a 41% clear rate from 56 rounds. That depth of record made them a worthy favourite on the day, and they delivered with the quickest clean second round in the field.

Ehning & Coolio 42 — going into the Grand Prix

All figures are for the Ehning & Coolio 42 combination at CSI5* 160cm level, recorded prior to this class.

LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes – CSI5* 1m60

Abdel Saïd and Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof took the win in 39.44 seconds in the jump-off of the LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes, clean and quick. Michael Pender and HHS Cyprus were second in 41.35, with Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and Cellagon Cascais third at 43.44. All three finished with double clears.

Saïd and Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof have limited mileage at CSI5* level but have made it count. The combination’s Elo of 685 is modest relative to the field, yet they have been performing above par when they go clean. Pender and HHS Cyprus were equally impressive in only their second outing at this level, landing second with a composed jump-off. For a ten-year-old still building his big-class record, that performance in Cannes is a significant step.

Saïd & Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof — going into the Grand Prix

All figures are for the Saïd & Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof combination at CSI5* 160cm level, recorded prior to this class.

Spruce Meadows Grand Prix – CSI5* 1m60

Spruce Meadows produced the most eye-catching result of the three. Katie Laurie & Django II took the win with the only clean jump-off round, stopping at 46.28 seconds. The New Zealand combination have been building at this level steadily across 39 rounds, and this is their first Grand Prix win at CSI5*.

Below the jump-off line, the placings were decided on first-round time. Conor Swail and Casturano took third ahead of Lucy Davis Kennedy and Ben 431 and Sean Jobin and Arkuga. Casturano’s Elo of 699, backed by nine wins and 25 podiums at this level, reflects the kind of consistent form Swail has built across many seasons at the top.

The highest Elo in the Spruce field at 715 belonged to Heartbeat W, shown by Abdulrahman Alrajhi.  Laurie was the only combination to go clean in the jump-off, and that was enough. Django II’s 13% clear rate from 39 rounds at CSI5* level is a modest number on paper, but Laurie has taken the combination through the levels carefully and the Spruce result is a significant landmark. Two podiums before this weekend now become three, and a first Grand Prix win to go with them.

Laurie & Django II — going into the Grand Prix

All figures are for the Laurie & Django II combination at CSI5* 160cm level, recorded prior to this class.

What does this tell us with Aachen on the horizon?

The FEI World Jumping Championships in Aachen this summer have been the target shaping programmes across Europe and beyond. The Nations Cup at St. Gallen served as a dress rehearsal for several teams with that goal in mind, and the weekend provided some valuable insight into where the leading nations stand.

Switzerland's home victory in the Nations Cup, built around Jason Smith's double clear performance and consistent contributions throughout the team, was a timely reminder that competing on home soil at a major championship carries an advantage that cannot be measured on paper.

The results from Cannes and Spruce Meadows reinforced a pattern that becomes increasingly important at championship level: Elo reflects long-term quality, but Grands Prix are won by the combinations that deliver on the day. In Aachen, where the pressure of both team and individual medals builds with every round, proven reliability under pressure will be as valuable as raw ability.

Aachen will ask the same question it always does: who can consistently jump clear? This weekend offered three different answers from three different venues. The combinations that continue to answer that question between now and July will be the ones to watch when the championship begins. Which combinations stood out to you this weekend?