Mexico City witnessed an electrifying display of world-class show jumping today as the CSI5* 1.50m Jump-Off, presented by Banorte, delivered a high-octane spectacle under the vibrant energy of packed grandstands. The atmosphere inside the stunning grass arena was nothing short of electric with top riders and elite equine athletes locked in a battle of speed, precision, and strategy.
In a turbo-charged display of horsepower, Denmark’s Zascha Nygaard Lill stormed to her first-ever LGCT victory, securing the lion’s share of the €105,500 prize purse aboard Com’on Stanley (Stakkato). The duo delivered a flawless performance, outpacing the competition to claim a momentous win.
Gilles Thomas and Luna van het Dennehof pushed the pace, finishing just 0.24 seconds behind to secure second place, while Jérôme Guery and Killer Queen rounded off the podium as the only other combination to clock a sub-38-second time on a clean sheet.
Speaking to GCTV, a beaming Zascha said: “I gave everything, tried to put it all together, and he was right there. I know he’s a fast horse and always strong in a jump-off, but there were a lot of good and quick riders to follow.
“The atmosphere and the people here are amazing—I think this might be my new favourite show!”
Saturday’s course was set to challenge, with technical questions and plenty of jumping efforts, but the world-class field of 43 made it look effortless. Seventeen combinations earned their place in the jump-off, setting the stage for a nail-biting finale but Alejandro Mills opted to not come forward to round 2. Christian Ahlmann and Mandato van de Neerheide (Emerald van 't Ruytershof) delivered a strong challenge, producing a clear in 38.48 seconds to place just outside the podium.
