The 2025 edition of the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament culminated in the third Major of the calendar year, the prestigious CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, which carried a record prize purse of CAD $5 million. And in fitting with Spruce Meadows’ 50th anniversary, Calgary’s knowledgeable equestrian crowd was treated to some extraordinary levels of horsemanship and drama.
As always, the 1.60m Grand Prix class was contested over two rounds in the iconic and sun-drenched International Ring, this year by 36 of the world’s finest horse-and-rider combinations, including 17 of the world’s current top 50 ranked riders, representing no fewer than 13 nations. Venezuelan course designer, Leopoldo Palcios, set a typically testing track, consisting of 17 obstacles in round one, and 15 in round two, with the latter featuring a vertical followed by a double combination through the trees.
The first round witnessed 11 clears, amongst them the German trio of Daniel Deusser, Sophie Hinners, and Jorne Sprehe, the current Rolex Grand Slam Live Contender, Martin Fuchs, three-time Major winner, Steve Guerdat, and 2015’s Rolex Grand Slam champion, Scott Brash. These six riders – four of them previous ‘International’ winners – and their mounts were amongst the 12 best-finishing partnerships from round one who progressed to the next round.
Round two proved to be an even tougher challenge for the 12 qualifiers, with none of the riders able to post a clear round. However, Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Kyle King of the United States triggered a jump-off after their aggregate scores were tied on four faults each.
First to go in the jump-off, Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson (Cooper vd Heffinck), navigated the eight-obstacle course faultlessly, crossing the finish line in a time of 46.97s, thereby putting the pressure firmly on his American rival. Despite clearing the first six obstacles, Kyle King and his 10-year-old bay mare, Kayenne Z (Kannan), came unstuck at the Canada planks and in doing so handed victory to Brash and his 16-year-old bay gelding Hello Jefferson (Cooper vd Heffinck)– a third ‘Masters’ Grand Prix triumph at Spruce Meadows for the Scot on the 10-year anniversary of his historic Rolex Grand Slam win. Steve Guerdat and Venard De Cerisy (Open Up Semilly) eventually finished third.
Commenting on his fifth Major victory, a visibly thrilled Scott Brash, said: “I’m just delighted for the horse [Hello Jefferson], to be honest. He deserved a big win, so to do it here at the biggest Grand Prix in the world – I'm just delighted for him, delighted for my owners, and delighted for my team, as they all work really hard and support me.”
The new Rolex Grand Slam Live Contender added: “It’s such an incredible show, and I just get such a good feeling when I come here. I’ve been very lucky to have sat on some fantastic horses – first Sanctos, then Ursula, and now Jefferson. I’ve proved how exceptional they’ve been to have won the biggest Grand Prix in the world.”
On his groom, David Honnet, Brash, commented: “He knows Jefferson inside out and he’s worked with him for so many years. Jefferson has a lot of trust in him, and that’s really important. David looks after him impeccably and we’re a great team. We’ve been working together for 10 years and we’re like a family. I’m delighted for David, and he was emotional today, and he was also really delighted for the horse. Yes, we won the gold medal last year, but up until now we’d never won that big, historic Grand Prix that we thought Jefferson was capable of, so to finally get one under his belt is a great, great feeling.”
