Ben Maher Wins the Rolex Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows, Ahead of Lillie Keenan and Steve Guerdat

One minute you’re on top of the world, the next you’re devastated—that’s show jumping for you. In Ben Maher’s case at Spruce Meadows, it was the other way around. Yesterday in the Nations Cup, the 2021 Olympic champion took a nasty fall and clutched his shoulder with a pained expression as he left the arena.

He had even considered not riding at all—or rather, his wife wanted to forbid him from doing so, he reported today. “I’m glad I did it after all.” No wonder. Today, he was back at the very top of Lady Luck’s wheel.

First Round

Only eight pairs completed the first round without any faults, including Richard Vogel and United Touch S. However, this was not the case for Maher and Enjeu de Grisien, who lost a shoe and consequently had a moment of uncertainty during the double combination, which was immediately penalized with four faults. Nevertheless, they were fast enough to qualify for the second round. The same was true for Christian Kukuk and Checker, who had a knockdown at the triple bar.

Things didn’t go as well for the other German pairs. Jörne Sprehe and Toys were the first pair to compete for Germany, but Sprehe fell. What initially looked bad seemed to have ended well—thanks in part to the airbag vest. Toys and his rider left the arena unharmed.

André Thieme and Derby winner Paule S had a great ride, with just one very minor fault at the wall. Daniel Deußer’s Otello seemed to have run out of steam a bit. The pair had a fault right at the first obstacle, followed by another at the water jump. Sophie Hinners’ Singclair had three knockdowns in the first round, which consisted of 13 obstacles and 17 jumps.

The competition got off to a much better start for New Zealander Katie Laurie, who lives not far from Spruce Meadows and was cheered on by the crowd as one of their own. Riding Django II, a son of Lordano, she was the first to complete a clear round over Leopoldo Palacios’s obstacle course. Yuri Mansur and his 19-year-old Quarter Horse, Alfons Santo Antonio, followed suit. There was also tremendous cheering for Sameh El Dahan from Egypt riding Oscar. And, of course, for Richard Vogel and United Touch S. There were a few clatters, but as one of eight clear-round pairs in the first round, they were one step closer to the dream of the Rolex Grand Slam.

Second Round

Then came round two. None of the clear rounds from the first round managed to complete the now-reconfigured course a second time without a knockdown; the course’s most challenging obstacle was a double combination featuring two massive oxers set beneath the International Ring’s distinctive trees. Richard Vogel and United Touch S still managed to clear it—even if it was a close call. But they were brought down at the second-to-last jump.

Since all the other zero-scorers before her had faltered, Lillie Keenan had the chance to clinch the victory without a playoff by posting the only double-zero round. But it wasn’t meant to be.

That was a stroke of luck for Ben Maher on Enjeu de Grisien and Steve Guerdat on Iashin Sitte, as both were among the pairs already carrying four penalty points going into the second round, but they rode flawlessly there and were thus among the six pairs with four faults who now had to settle the outcome in a jump-off. Christian Kukuk was no longer in the running after knocking down another rail. And Yuri Mansur also had to throw in the towel after five faults.

The Jumping-Off

Steve Guerdat was the first to ride in the

jumping-off

and did exactly what you’d expect from a world champion: he rode like a world champion. His horse, Iashin Sitte, doesn’t really look like he has what it takes for Spruce Meadows. But appearances can be deceiving. Not only did they clear the course without any faults, but they also completed it in a speedy 42.25 seconds. That set the benchmark against which everyone else had to measure themselves.

Ben Maher accepted the challenge, and his 12-year-old Toulon son, Enjeu de Grisien, joined him. They easily beat the Swiss rider’s time: 41.40 seconds.

Katie Laurie also had a knockdown, as did the Belgian Roy van Beek, who, at 24, was the youngest competitor in the jump-off and was riding the 11-year-old OS gelding Cavoiro H by Casallco—a German horse bred by Johannes Heinrichs. But for both pairs, just making it this far was already a huge success.

Things turned out differently for Richard Vogel and United Touch S. The world No. 1 and team world champion was on the verge of making history in show jumping as the second Rolex Grand Slam winner, following Scott Brash. United Touch sailed over the first jump and attacked the rest of the course with his ground-covering canter. A tricky moment in the jump-off: The double combination under the trees had previously caused a halt. And this time, it proved to be their undoing. The rear bar of the second oxer fell. Richard Vogel’s disappointment was clearly visible as he galloped across the finish line with four faults and lavished praise on United Touch. The audience celebrated him anyway with a standing ovation—him and this incredible horse, whom Vogel kept pointing to, to make it clear who the real number one is.

At one point, Ben Maher—who was still in the lead—had to hold his breath. Lillie Keenan and Fasther entered the course. The U.S. World Championship pair was fast, but not the fastest. The clock stopped at 41.85 seconds. With that, it was clear: The winner of the 2026 Rolex Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows is Ben Maher.

Hard to believe, but true: For Maher, it was his first-ever Rolex Major victory. Lillie Keenan finished second, followed by world champion Steve Guerdat.

Richard Vogel ultimately finished in fifth place with the fastest four-fault round of 41.92 seconds (which, incidentally, would have been “only” the third-fastest time). Christian Kukuk also finished in the money, coming in eleventh.

You can find all the results here.