Roger-Yves Bost declared “today was my day” after winning an adrenaline-fuelled grand prix at the debut Longines Global Champions Tour in the vibrant Mexico City.

The experienced French speed demon fought off stiff competition from two youngsters—20-year-olds Jos Verlooy of Belgium and Bertram Allen of Ireland in a four-man jump off in the huge grass arena.

“I’ve won two Global grands prix with the father of this horse—one in the final of Abu Dhabi—so to win with the son is a very good feeling,” said Bost. He rode Quod’Couer de la Loge to the blue, an 11-year-old son of his former top horse Ideal de la Loge. “The show is so good—my horse felt very good in the class. When I jumped yesterday I felt I had a good chance to win. For the first time to jump here, this place is amazing.”

Roger-Yves Bost on his way to the win aboard Quod’Couer de la Loge.

It was an impressive debut for Mexico City on the championship circuit with a colorful fiesta atmosphere and a passionate crowd of tens of thousands enjoying world class equestrian show jumping. The winning riders were besieged by autograph hunters with the sport proving to be an instant hit in Mexico City.

Only a week after the season opener in Miami Beach—on the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean—the move to Mexico City at over 2,000 meters above sea level clearly brought out some fantastic performances from both human and equine athletes. Mexican riders were cheered wildly by fans as national riders showed their strength against the best in the world.

Veteran French rider Roger-Yves Bost (right) emerged victorious in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Mexico City over two 2-year-old stars—Jos Verlooy of Belgium (center) and Bertram Allen of Ireland (left).

The forty-two riders on the starting list represented 16 countries, six of the world’s top-10 riders, Olympians, seasoned veterans and hotshot youngsters. In the two-round format, the top 18 scores return for a second round. Sixteenth to go and first clear was young superstar Verlooy on the gray stallion Caracas.

Five more matched that faultless effort, Kent Farrington and the Belgian mare Gazelle; Christian Ahlmann of Germany and the Belgian stallion Epleaser van’t Heike, Swiss rider Romain Duguet and the Selle Francais mare Quorida de Treho; Roger-Yves Bost and Selle Francais stallion Qoud’Couer de la Loge, and another young show jumping young superstar, Ireland’s Bertram Allen aboard the also young Belgian stallion Hector van d’Abdijhoeve.

Seventh through eighteenth riders included hometown favorite Antonio Chedraui of Mexico and Ninloubet who finished just .7 seconds over the 79 seconds allowed for a 1-fault score. Nine 4-fault scores and two 5-fault rides also earned a spot in the second round. 

The level of excitement went up several notches as four of the final six riders in the second round went double clear, assuring a jump-off to determine the winner. 

First in, Ahlmann, who earned third in last weekend’s LGCT Miami Beach, had an unlucky rail coming out of the pink combination towards the end of the jump-off, finishing with 4 faults in 39.72s. Veteran Bost, or “Bosty,” knew he had to ride clear and fast, as two of the best young riders in the world were still to come. 

He showed the appreciative audience and those youngsters how it’s done, fault-free in 37.23 seconds. 

Verlooy gave a gallant effort, clear in 41.63 seconds, which was not quite fast enough to catch the flying Frenchman. Finally, in galloped Allen on the talented stallion Hector, who looked fast the whole round until one fence caught the impressive combination out. 

Riding the son of his Selle Francais stallion Ideal de la Loge, Bosty proudly stood on the top of the podium and took the victory gallop in front of a cheering crowd. 

Shanghai Swans Sail To Victory

Mexico City was also the site of the second leg of the new Global Champions League series, and Global Champions League Teams were greeted with a boisterous welcome as they walked the course.

It was a test until the last rail, but it was the graceful pair of Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia with the 12-year-old gelding Ego van Orti and Janne-Friederike Meyer of Germany with the grey 11-year-old mare Charlotta representing Shanghai Swans who finished with best score of the day.

Edwina Tops-Alexander (left) and Janne-Friederike Meyer joined forces to represent the Shangahi Swans and win the Global Champions League event at Mexico City.

 Donning their custom polo shirts, 12 teams of two walked, planned and practiced together as well as rooted for one another as they took on the challenges of the courses. Set at 1.55-meter, the first round saw five of 24 riders negotiate the track without fault, but no teams went into the second round with a zero score.

Eight teams went through to Round 2. Jumping clear was only part of the test in the second round—in order not to accrue time faults the riders were required to keep up a solid gallop and stick to a tidy track. Eight of the 16 riders who returned finished with time faults, three with only those time faults added.

However clean rounds are only half of the equation, as the both team members scores are added together, which means every time fault and every rail counts. Ultimately, the Shanghai Swans topped the field with a final two-round score of 10.

“It was super exciting—it’s a unique experience, as you can choose who you want on your team,” said Tops-Alexander. “We chose Janne to be part of the Shanghai Swans; we know she’s a strong rider. I was a little nervous as yesterday I suggested she changed her [horse entry] and she listened to me! I thought she was a little nervous so I felt responsible, but she did an amazing job and like she said, her horse Charlotta hasn’t quite got that experience but, today she gained a lot more experience! We’re just super happy and really excited to continue the rest of the season.”

“I like to ride in a team—it’s always a little bit of extra excitement and extra pressure, but also extra fun!” said Meyer. “Today we had a really great day—Edwina and I walked the course together. I’m proud of Charlotta, she did a great job today.”

Find full resuts of the Global Champions Tour of Mexico City here; find full results of the Global Champions League of Mexico City here.