Text © World of Showjumping

World no. one Kent Farrington (USA) saved the best for last in Wednesday’s CSIO5* 1.60m Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe at CHIO Aachen 2025, the first qualifier of the week for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen – one of four Majors in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Riding the 10-year-old Myla, Farrington came in as last to go in a jump-off of twelve – blazing around the shortened track to snatch the win from Daniel Bluman (ISR) by 0.28 seconds. “This is the best show in the world; great crowd, best riders, strong support – I think we all love competing here, and it feels great to win too,” Farrington said after flying to the victory in Aachen.

No less than thirteen out of the 46 horse-and-rider combinations in the class posted clear rounds, to join the jump-off. The first to answer all the questions asked by course designer Frank Rothenberger (GER) over the 14-fence track was Farrington, who as pathfinder rode Myla (Crunch 3 x Quadros) to a clear round. With another twelve top-class duos posting clears, the jump-off at Soers was bound to become a race against the clock with eleven returning as Emilie Conter (BEL) opted not to come back. 

Returning in reverse order of their times in round one, it was Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) as the first man out in the jump-off who also delivered the first clear aboard Vestmalle des Cotis (Baloubet du Rouet x Landor S) in 41.46 seconds. Two riders later, the time was bettered by Ben Maher (GBR) who literally flew around the shortened track at lightning-fast speed with Dallas Vegas Batilly (Cap Kennedy x l'Arc de Triomphe) with a turn so tight in the rollback to the Mercedes-Benz vertical that a gasp went through Soers. Crossing the finish line the clock stopped on 39.65 seconds, and it looked very difficult to beat the 2024 Olympic team gold medallists. 

After Sophie Hinners (GER) and Iron Dames Singclair (Singular LS la Silla x Cardento 933) had crossed the timers clear in 41.20 seconds, it was time for Aachen’s darling Richard Vogel (GER). Aboard Cloudio (Casall x San Patrignano Cassini), Vogel really pushed for Maher’s time but not even he could do anything to make the lead change hands – slotting into a temporary second place as the clock showed 39.92 seconds. 

Only all or nothing would do to beat Maher, and in Daniel Bluman’s case he decided for the first option. Riding the lovely Corbie V.V. (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco-Blue), Bluman did the seemingly impossible with a round so fast that it was hard to follow – with his mare miraculously clearing the last oxer after a spectacular round, crossing the finish line in 38.81 seconds to take the lead. 

Bluman’s time remained the one to beat for another three riders, but with Farrington – one of the fastest in the world – as last in the ring at Soers, it was about to be challenged. In his signature style, Farrington blazed around the jump-off track cheered and whistled on by the crowd and taking all the risk he managed to shave off an incredible 0.28 seconds on Bluman’s time to take the win. Bluman had to settle for second, Maher for third, Vogel for fourth, while Ioli Mytilineou (GRE) ended fifth riding L'Artiste de Toxandra (Toulon x Kashmir van Schuttershof).

“It was amazing riders in the class, these two guys [Editor's note: Bluman and Maher in second and third] are great winners – so strong challenge. I got to go last so I knew exactly what I had to do, I could maybe take a little more risk than you want to if you are going earlier in the order so that worked out for me today,” Farrington explained about his jump-off.  

“I trust that horse and her speed across the ground so I can match most of the strides, or even do one extra and know that she's going to be very quick or close to their time,” Farrington said about challenging Bluman and Maher. “I did one stride less across the middle than I maybe would have done if I went first, so more or less I tried to do my horse’s best round and tonight that was good enough.”

“Myla is a big heart in a small package,” Farrington said of his winning mare. “If you stand next to her, she looks like a little pony. She's very kind, she's incredibly brave and she really fights for the rider. She tries to do anything you ask and tonight we asked her to win, and she delivered.”

“I'm very happy to win tonight but I also know that the work has just begun – it's a long week here,” Farrington said looking forward to the days to come at Soers.