Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

A youngster won the biggest daily competition for the second afternoon in a row at the Spruce Meadows 'Pan American' 2024 as Mckayla Langmeier (USA), 24, and Pepita vd Rollebeek (Otangelo x Toulon) topped Saturday's CSI5* 1.45m PH&N Cup.

The 24-year-old’s triumph followed Friday’s win in the CSI5* Canadian Utilities Cup by the 21-year-old Mexican rider Francisco Pasquel Vega, with both surpassing a seasoned field of veterans.

Langmeier, from Connecticut, gave credit for the PH&N Cup victory to another relative newcomer, the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood Pepita vd Rollebeek, who is competing in her first-ever CSI5* events this month at Spruce Meadows. 

“I’m hoping she’s going to be my 1.60m horse,” said Langmeier, who also won the 1.45m ATCO Cup earlier this month aboard 11-year-old mare Chadina. “Pepita is a younger horse I’ve been bringing along so it’s really rewarding to have her win such a big class. Chadina is much more experienced. She’s a little bit older, and has done more of everything. Pepita is much greener, but she is coming along. I always think, with a younger horse, you have to grow with them. The horse they were a month ago may not be the same horse they are now. Each day we are learning more about each other.”

Kyle King (USA) and Sig Chiari (Cristallo II x Landadel) placed second, followed by Luis Larrazabal (VEN) and Belle de Muze (Ponsee V x Lando) in third, Xaviera Maurer Buch (MEX) and Davinci (Verdi TN x Concorde) in fourth and Lillie Keenan (USA) aboard Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) in fifth.