Jess Mendoza takes second place in the MLSJ Highlands Cup Grand Prix in New York with Ascadina PP Z
Tuesday 13 October 2026
Jess Mendoza continued with her fantastic run of success and, just a week after scoring her biggest win in the $340,000 5* Grand Prix at the LLN Barcelona Final, she claimed second in the MLSJ New York 5* Grand Prix, this time riding Ascadina PP Z.
“She jumped her first 1.50m before I bought her just over a year ago but is still very much on the green side at this level, but she’s always been a special mare,” said Jess. “One of my client’s Mum bought her for me to ride and we hope she can make it all the way and hopefully be on our run to the Olympics as one of the possible horses – we’re very excited about her.”
A field of 36 came forward over course-designer Gregory Bodo’s (FRA) 14-fence, 17-effort track for the Highlands Cup at the Major League Show Jumping event in Armenia, New York, with 12 providing initial clear rounds to access the jump-off. The clock played a major part as five jumped clear again, Jess guiding the 10-year-old mare Ascadina Asca Z x Ginus) into second 0.99 seconds behind the winner, Israel’s Mark Bluman on Landon De Nyze.
“She jumped her first five-star a couple of months ago; she’s unbelievably scopey with a nice, relaxed mindset and positive attitude towards everything,” said Jess, who bought her through Max Routledge. “We’ve bought another from Max as we love her so much, and we think the nine-year-old is equally as special.”
Jess also picked up second in the early 64-horse $31,100 2* 1.45m Equiscore speed with the nine-year-old Quick Ginger Della Caccia (Quick Star x Calido), 0.29 seconds off the winning time set by The USA’s Mary Rose Canterbury on Zuperman MT.
“I’ve taken the ride on Quick Ginger for a friend of ours,” said Jess. “He’s very cool and fun, a speed type and naturally quick – I don’t even have to gallop!”
Graham Babes takes third in the feature 3* Grand Prix in Spain
Graham Babes landed third place in the feature 3* 1.50m Grand Prix in Oliva Nova, Spain, with Monks I Am Casall.
Fifty-six riders faced a challenging 1.50m track designed by Spain’s Isabel Fernandez de Canete, the 13-fence, 16-effort course drastically reducing the numbers to just five for the jump-off. Saly Goding was considered unlucky after leaving every fence intact but picking up one frustrating time fault on Vivalgot for sixth.
Four faults second time out dropped Graham and the 12-year-old Monks I Am Casall (I’m Special De Muze x Casall) down the line, but it was still sufficient for a podium place in third. Portugal’s Duarte Seabra lifted the win on Cabernet De Fer Z with Canada’s Kara Chad in second aboard Ciao Bello NVE Z.
Laura Renwick scored a win in the Gold 1.40m with Top Star C. Forty-seven competitors contended this speed class but Laura outpaced them all, urging the eight-year-old Big Star Darco stallion into a 1.67 second win.
Laura also clinched third in the world ranking Gold 1.45m Final with Marseille. Only eight from a field of 66 returned for the jump-off, Laura picking up four faults second time out on the Toulon x Otangelo nine-year-old, owned jointly with Neil Fiddes, to finish third.
Matt Sampson scored a victory double. He seized the win in an early Seven-year-old 1.35m two-phase, galloping ahead of his 28 rivals by 0.96 seconds on Cavintinue PS (Casallco x Vivant). Matt also topped the 86-strong Silver 1.35m speed with the eight-year-old stallion Mecarno (Locarno 62 x Clinton) by the narrow margin of 0.07 seconds over Laura Renwick, in second on Cottee.
Joe Clayton was also a Seven-year-old winner as 44 contended over a 1.35m course with immediate jump-off. Joe flew ahead on Chamonix Z (Clarimo X Diamant De Semilly) to win by 1.35 seconds. Matt chased but had to settle for second and third on Cavintinue and early leader J’Adore Team.
Alex Gill claims second in a 5* 1.50m in Mexico
Alex Gill claimed a five-star second place in the Libre 1.50m at Coapexpan in Mexico with Excalibur Rumel.
Twenty-two riders came forward over course-designer Peter Grant’s (CAN) 12-fence, 15-effort 1.50m speed track with Alex and the Elvis Ter Putte x Sandro Boy 12-year-old taking second place five seconds behind the winner, New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley on Champion League.
Chad Fellows is on the podium in Romania
Chad Fellows picked up two podium places on a trip to Snagov, Romania.
Creevyquinn Pearl secured second place in the 3* Gold Tour 1.50m for Chad. Twenty-seven competitors contended this speed class over a 12-fence, 14-effort track with Chad and the 12-year-old Cardento 933 daughter setting an early target and holding onto the top spot more than halfway into the class. A late round by Hungary’s Peter Szuhai on Corbluecenta caught them with 2.35 seconds to spare, pushing Chad into second.
Chad also picked up third in the opening day’s feature class, the 3* 1.45m with NPS Klooney. Thirteen of the original 25 returned for the jump-off, Chad slipping the NPS Super Nova x Toulon nine-year-old into third 0.82 seconds off the pace.
Millie Allen is in the money at CSI Lier
Millie Allen twice jumped onto the podium at Azelhof Horse Events in Lier, Belgium.
Millie started her week with a win in the Seven and Eight-year-old with Liyanna Ter Wijnen Z. A total of 44 competitors tackled this speed class, Millie outpacing all her rivals on the Le Blue Diamond Van’t Ruytershof x Cardento seven-year-old mare with a 1.32 second advantage.
Millie Guided Lanceola Eickenrode into second place in the 2* 1.40m Final. Eight of the original 37 participants advanced to the jump-off, Millie and the 10-year-old mare (Grand Slam VDL x C Indoctro) slipping onto second 0.24 seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Camille Biebuyck on Joline De Fremis. Lily Attwood also posted a double clear for fourth on Apart Z.
Laura Mantel topped the ClipMyHorse Six-year-old Final with Corbelli Z. Twenty-one competitors contended this two-phase track with Laura and the Cordento daughter edging ahead to win the class by 0.07 seconds.
Image: Triple M Farms
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