Jordan Coyle (IRL) recorded the biggest win of his career when he topped a two-horse jump-off with Eristov to win the $1,910,000 (~$100,000 U.S.) Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Leon, the newest leg on the North American League.

Coyle, 25, and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Eristov (Cicero Z van Paemel x Concorde) had the disadvantageous position of having to jump first over Anderson Lima (BRA)’s shortened track at the Leon Equestrian Club. However, after crossing the timers in 40.37 seconds, they put the pressure on Salvador Onate (MEX) and Big Red (Ludwig von Bayern x Lamoureux I), who were fresh off a win in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Guadalajara just two weeks prior. That pair settled for second with their 41.96-second clear round. Federico Fernandez (MEX) and Davidoff (Olympic Fire 5 x Paradiesvogel) finished third, having recorded just a single time fault in the first round.

“My horse is naturally very fast,” Coyle said. “Going first, I wasn’t sure what to do, as I’m new to Mexico [and this show circuit]. I went as fast as I could go, and it worked.”

Clear rounds were hard to come by in the first round, as Coyle didn’t crack the code to a faultless performance until more than halfway through the class. Even an increase in the time allowed from 79 to 81 seconds only benefited Onate; Coyle was the only competitor to jump the first round cleanly and within the original time allowed.

"On a day like this, I don't think there are many horses in the world that are as good as him. This is without a doubt my biggest win so far," Coyle said.