The CSI4* competition at the 2026 Upperville Colt & Horse Show, presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ came down to fractions of a second on Friday, with Ireland’s Philip McGuane and Evergate Stables’ Crislin van den Bosrand Z (Carambole x Nabab de Reve) capturing the $62,500 Upperville Welcome Stakes by a margin so narrow it barely registered on the clock. Michael A. Smith of Middleburg, Va., sponsored the class.
McGuane and the 9‑year‑old Zangersheide mare secured the win by less than one one‑hundredth of a second (0.01) over Sloane Coles (USA) and The Ninja Group’s Ninja JW van de Moerhoeve (Elvis ter Putte x Kashmir van Schuttershof), who had set the early pace as the second to return in the jump‑off. Their time held through five more trips before McGuane delivered the round that ultimately edged them out.
Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Hummer Z (Harley VDL x Hemmingway), a 12‑year‑old Zangersheide gelding owned by Abigail Wexner, opened the jump‑off and finished third, just 0.22 seconds behind Coles in a class that stayed tight from start to finish.
Course designer Alan Wade’s challenging track resulted in ten horses from 37 starters returning for the jump-off, with Bluman turning in a speedy trip incurring zero faults and stopping the clock at 33.97 seconds to take the lead. Coles, The Plains, Va., was soon the one to beat, bettering Bluman’s jumpoff time by a close.22 seconds, and McGaune returned to win the class, crossing the timers .22 seconds faster than Coles.
