27 August '25
Gold and silver in the CSI5* Toronto Grand Prix
© MLSJ / Mackenzie Clark
Last weekend was once again full of top-class sport at the very highest level. While the Longines Global Champions Tour descended on Valkenswaard, there was also fierce competition on the other side of the ocean during the five-star event in Toronto, Canada. It was a fruitful weekend there for our studbook colours, as both the gold and silver were taken by a Z-horse at the CSI5* Grand Prix.
The CSI5* Grand Prix on Saturday evening was the absolute highlight of the weekend in Toronto last weekend, bringing a total of twenty-four combinations to the start. Eight of them managed to complete the 1.60m basic round run by German course designer Olav Peterson Jr. and his team to advance to the decisive jump-off. One of those eight were Israeli rider Daniel Bluman and the 10-year-old grey mare Corbie V.V. Z, a daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Chacco Blue bred by Evelyne and Colin Van Vreckom. Bluman and Corbie V.V. Z sped to the finishing line in 44.33 seconds in that eight-strong jump-off, marking their first-ever Grand Prix on their record.
Daniel Bluman: "Toronto has always been a good place for me. I've had a lot of success here, but tonight is an important night for me. It is Corbie's very first five-star victory and I really believe in that horse! I think her percentage of clear rounds in five-star competitions is perhaps one of the best in the world. Hopefully this is only the first (laughs)."
However, Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V. Z were not the only ones to prove successful at this CSI5* Grand Prix, as silver also coloured blue and yellow there. That honour fell to American world number one Kent Farrington and his 11-year-old top mare Toulayna, the daughter of Toulon and Parco born to breeder Jasper Doucé as Toulayna van het Bloesemhof Z. Farrington and Toulayna also managed to ensure a clear jump-off, but with a finishing time of 44.44 seconds they had to acknowledge their superiority to the performance of Bluman and Corbie V.V. Z.
Besides his victory in the CSI5* Grand Prix with Corbie V.V. Z, Daniel Bluman also enjoyed success in Toronto with the 11-year-old gelding Hummer Z, a son of Harley VDL and Hemmingway bred in the Netherlands by the Bocken family. In the 1.50m main class on Thursday, Bluman and Hummer Z were among the seven combinations who managed to qualify for the jump-off, in which they managed to secure a handsome 5th place.
Another notable combination was German rider Rene Dittmer and the 14-year-old mare Echo vh Gerendal Z (Echo van 't Spieveld Z x Jodokus) from the Verhey family's breeding farm in the Netherlands. Dittmer and Echo vh Gerendal Z started their competition on Thursday with a 7th place in the 1.40m opening class, while on Saturday they also gained a 5th place in the 1.45m class with Winning Round.
Two-star competition
Most of the attention in Toronto last weekend undoubtedly went to the five-star competition, but there was also jumping at two-star level. The CSI2* Grand Prix also took place on Saturday and in it, too, it was a Z-horse that took the top prize. Victory went to British rider Jessica Mendoza and her 13-year-old gelding I-Cap CL Z, a son of I'M Special de Muze and Air Jordan Z bred by Alexander Liefsoens. Mendoza and I-Cap CL Z, also good for a2nd place in the 1.45m main class the day before, rushed to the finish line in the eight-strong jump-off in 32.78 seconds, more than a full second ahead of the competition.
Furthermore, a podium place in this CSI2* Grand Prix was also reserved for American rider Skylar Wireman and the 14-year-old stallion Chirolito Z (Cederic Z x Prince de Rêvel - Breeder: M. R. Melchior-Kierkegaard). In the jump-off they too did not make any mistakes and their finishing time of 34.65 seconds was good for a great 3rd place.