In a fast-paced class, Ballard stopped the clock at 29.29 seconds in the jump-off after a clean opening round on the Selle Français gelding Genius de Rance (v. Quitus d'Armanville x Quick Star), bred by Roland Le Fustec.
Shane Sweetnam secured second place riding the Belgian Warmblood mare Pia Maria H (v. Kasanova de La Pomme x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve). Sweetnam completed the jump-off course in 29.73 seconds. Pia Maria H was bred by Mia Hillen.
Switzerland's Beat Mändli rounded out the top three aboard Qoachella (v. Mosito van het Hellehof x Ferro). Mändli crossed the finish line in 31.30 seconds on the BWP mare.
Nicole Walker followed in fourth place with Leicester (v. Harley VDL x Verdi TN) after recording a four-fault jump-off in 26.25 seconds. Chris Pratt finished fifth with Ideaal Es (v. Ukato x Conway), crossing the timers in 32.82 seconds with four penalties in the jump-off.
Mary Rose Canterbury & Zuperman MT unbeatable in 1.45m CSI2*
USA’s Mary Rose Canterbury wasn’t aiming for a win in Thursday’s 2*; however, Zuperman MT’s foot speed clinched it for her to highlight Thursday action during Major League Show Jumping week at the 2026 Cup, the second week of the Autumn Invitational at Highlands.
The 11-year-old Swedish-bred gelding ate up the track of Gregory Bodo (FRA), the Olympic course designer from the Paris Games. Canterbury and Zuperman MT (Corporal VDL x Cassiano) stopped the clock in the one-round speed-format class in 68.51 seconds to earn the victory for owner 5C Ranch and Minerals, LLC.
Canterbury and Zuperman MT are in the midst of a comeback tour after an injury sidelined the gelding for much of the 2025 season. “We weren’t planning to go for the win today, but he’s a very fast horse and has come back so strong,” said Canterbury, who hails from Texas and trains with Olympian Daniel Bluman. “I don’t have to think too hard about going fast.”
The closest challenger, Jessica Mendoza (GBR), posted a time of 68.80 seconds aboard Quick Ginger Della Caccia, owned by Take Two, LLC. Peru’s Vasco Flores rounded out the top three in 69.92 seconds riding Stena for Clover M Sporthorses.
“It was unexpected, but I am really happy—after one of the rollbacks I knew we were fast, and we just kept going,” concluded Canterbury, who is a freshman at Texas Tech studying business.
