Chloe Aston featured on the podium in the first Morocco Royal Tour 5* World Cup Grand Prix in El Jadida with Akito Van Rocherath Z
Monday 19 October 2026
For the first time in the Morocco Royal Tour history and following four-star events in Tetouan and Rabat, the tour hosted a CSI5*-World Cup in El Jadida, with Britain’s Chloe Aston clinching second place in the 5* World Cup Grand Prix with Akito Van Rocherath Z.
“He loves his job, every time he goes in the ring, he wants to do it and has a heart of gold,” said Chloe, on the horse she took over from her brother Jake as a seven-year-old four years ago.
A total of 44 riders from 16 nations came forward in the top-billed World Cup Grand Prix over Italian course-designer Uliano Vezzani’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.60m track. Eleven returned for round two under the 25% rule, the four initial clear rounds joined by seven carrying their four faults into the second round.
“It was a tough and technical, quick-thinking track; the horse had to keep jumping and be on time every step of the way. It was a fantastic, proper jumping course,” said Chloe, who was at her second five-star show with Akito. “He jumped the 5* Nations Cup in Falsterbo, Sweden, and we’ve been coming to the Royal Morocco Tour for the past three years now. It is very well organised, it all runs smoothly and they time everything right so the horses get the best temperatures for jumping – it’s a fantastic show.”
As a clear from round one, Chloe was drawn in the latter stages of the jump-off and jumped another clear aboard the 11-year-old Akito Von Rocherath Z (Arko III x Numero Uno). They slipped into second place when Belgium’s Jerome Guery jumped to victory with 1.34 seconds to spare on Kiliman Sitte.
“I’m so happy, he jumped his heart out for me and gave me everything. He has all the talent, I can’t wait to see what the future holds – he really deserves a chance at top level,” said Chloe.
Laura Renwick scores a hat-trick on the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
Laura Renwick’s form continued in Oliva Nova, Spain, as she added a hat-trick of wins in the third week of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour Autumn I.
NFS Top Gun (Top Dollar x Heartbreaker) stepped up to the plate for Laura to win the Gold 3* 1.45m speed and Grand Prix qualifier, the home-bred eight-year-old outpacing their 60 rivals by 0.51 seconds. Anna Power guided Calgary PH Z into third.
Another home-bred – Cottee – scored a winning double for Laura. The Asterix E Z x Couleur Rubin 12-year-old topped the 76-strong Silver 1.35m speed by 0.97 seconds, going on to outpace 34 rivals to take the Silver 1.40m speed with more than four seconds to spare and pushing Jude Burgess’s Napoleon into second.
Laura also claimed second in the Gold 1.40m speed on the eight-year-old Top Star C (Big Star x Darco) half a second off the pace.
Following a 52-entry Gold 1.40m two-phase win by 0.81 seconds, Phillip Spivey and the eight-year-old mare Billy Disco slotted into third in the world ranking Gold 1.45m Final. Only six of the 68 starters accessed the jump-off, Phillip jumping another faultless round to take third almost four seconds behind the winner, Ireland’s Niall Talbot on FTS Elliot.
In the supporting classes, Jasmin Head and her 18-year-old seasoned campaigner Ma Cherie Z (Montender x Landor S) topped a 52-strong Gold 1.30m speed by 0.76 seconds; Emily Fisher guided the 13-year-old Iline (Cardento 933 x Casall) to the top of a 63-entry Silver 1.30m two-phase and Alex Atherton topped the 59-horse Bronze 1.30m Accumulator on the Kannan 10-year-old Killer De Grand Moustier with 3.70 seconds in hand.
The red weather alert for Sunday officially suspended all sports events and all MET scheduled classes were cancelled.
Jess Mendoza claims a USA five-star second place in Tryon
Jess Mendoza jumped into second place in the 5* Winning Round on Malou HX and the Major League Showjumping leg in Tryon, USA.
Thirty-five competitors originally contended the 5* 1.45m track with the best 10 returning to battle it out against the clock in round two. Jess steered the nine-year-old mare (Cape Coral RBF Z x Baloubet Du Rouet) into second 1.48 seconds behind the pace.
Jess also picked up the win in the 2* 1.40m speed with the 14-year-old Cascalretto (Casall Ask x Calando I), galloping ahead of 82 rivals by 0.13 seconds.
Luke Hill is in the money in Leeuwarden
Luke Hill featured in two 3* 1.40m classes with VDL Sambucci De Muze in Leeuwarden in The Netherlands.
Luke jumped to victory in an early two-phase with the Hunters Scendro z Vigo D’Arsouilles eight-year-old, scoring a 0.90 second win. Twenty-four hours later, the pair claimed second in the 3* 1.40m Table C speed (three seconds added for a knockdown) 0.47 seconds behind the pace.
Image: Chloe Aston Instagram
.JPG "Jodie Hall McAteer crowned Leading Showjumper of the Year for a second time")
.JPG "Joe Whitaker in a hurry at HOYS as he lands NAEC Stoneleigh Speed Horse of the Year title")
.JPG "Douglas Duffin keeps the Scottish flag flying with victory in Grade C Championship")