Press release from FEI written by Catie Staszak, edited by World of Showjumping

McLain Ward (USA) broke through with a statement victory Saturday night at Santa Anita Park, capturing the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Los Angeles in emphatic fashion with the 12-year-old gelding High Star Hero (Zazu x Darco). The pair bested a seven-horse jump-off to secure the biggest victory of their partnership with a winning jump-off time of 33.99 seconds. Richard Vogel (GER) finished second with Gangster Montdesir (Kannan x Cornet Obolensky) with a time of 34.39 seconds, followed by Nina Mallevaey (FRA) and Dynastie de Beaufor (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini II) who clocked in at 34.73 seconds.

Ward had started the North American League season in frustrating fashion. His top horse Imperial HBF (Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Orginal VDL) was sidelined shortly before the start of the season to injury, leading him to call upon less experienced partners. He was plagued by "four fault-itis" in Traverse City (USA) before a single time fault kept him from the jump-off at Washington. In Los Angeles, things came together at last; Ward's emotion was palpable as he punched his fist in the air following a near-flawless jump-off. 

"Sometimes we rally, and this horse has stepped up. He's been...knocking on the door, and I'm really thrilled for him to get a win for our whole team," Ward said.

It was a night of foreshadowing in Los Angeles. The Santa Anita Park venue—host of equestrian sport at the 1984 Olympic Games—has been pegged to host Olympic competition again in 2028. Course designer Anderson Lima (MEX) set a big and technical track ahead of his appointment as course designer for the 2026 World Cup Finals in Fort Worth (USA). The sport's best rose to the top, setting the stage for a most thrilling jump-off.

Vogel was the first to crack the code to a clear round—15 riders into the class—and in the jump-off, he put the pressure on his competitors with a sharp clear effort aboard 9-year-old Gangster Montdesir, who impressed in his World Cup debut. Vogel, who has spent the last two seasons commuting between Europe and North America, has established a stateside base with Ward, and the two athletes have come to fuel one another. 

"I would not even call it a trainer or student situation; I would call it a very tight friendship. He's sure a great mentor of mine and [has] taught me a lot of things," Vogel expressed. "It was great sport tonight, and I'm happy for him. Unfortunately, I was too slow, and next time I'll try to swap it up."

Vogel's time held up through four horse-and-rider combinations, as Laura Kraut (USA) on Bisquetta (Bisquet Balou C x Takashi van Berkenbroek) fell short on time and Aaron Vale (USA) with Carissimo 25 (Cascadello x Clinton), Kent Farrington (USA) aboard Toulayna (Toulon x Parco), and Kyle Timm (CAN) with Casino Calvin (Casino Berlin x Calvin) had rails fall in their pursuit of the top spot. Ward set himself apart as he left out a stride between the jump-off's first two fences and turned back particularly quickly to the vertical three fences from home.

"My horse has a bigger stride, so I was able to get the eight [strides], but the eight was fast," Ward shared. "The third jump showed up a little wild, but the horse gave a great effort. I think I got the gold vertical across the middle great on the first stride, and he shifted right, which allowed me to keep coming to the [eight-strided line]."

Last to go, Mallevaey—the world's top ranked U25 rider—gave great chase but could not quite catch the top two. Dynastie de Beaufor gave Mallevaey her first five-star Grand Prix victory in August and has helped the 25-year-old earn a place among the top 20 jumping athletes in the world.

"I think I'm just surrounded by amazing people and horses and that gives me a lot of confidence," Mallevaey said. "I'm really grateful to be here right now. I've been watching McLain since I was a kid, so to be a part of this now is a dream."

Ward has been partnered with High Star Hero since last summer, and while the pair found near-immediate success, the horse has also required patience with his sensitivity. Ward compared the gelding's rise to one of his championship partners, Rothchild.

"Hero is a very talented horse—very careful, very sensitive," Ward explained. "I remember back to the days of Rothchild: I said, 'This is our best horse [right now], and he has a lot of good qualities, and we're going to have him dig in here, and he's risen to the challenge.'" 

Conor Swail (IRL) added a few more points to his North American League tally, finishing top 12 with 9-year-old Cloterm Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky x Lux Z). He continues to lead the standings with 41 points. Ward moved into second with 36 points, followed by Laura Kraut (USA) with 33 points. The NAL resumes in the New Year at Thermal (USA) on 31 January 2026.