The Longines Global Champions Tour of Mexico opened in emphatic fashion on Friday as Belgium’s Jérôme Guéry produced a blistering round to win the first CSI5* class of the meeting, setting an early standard at the celebrated Campo Marte venue in Mexico City.
Longines Global Champions Tour Mexico results :
Against the striking backdrop of Chapultepec Park, a field of 54 riders contested the 1.45m opener presented by the Qatar–Mexico Year of Culture, with packed stands and a lively crowd giving the week an atmosphere worthy of one of the sport’s marquee destinations.
Guéry, one of Europe’s most accomplished riders, wasted little time in making his presence felt. Partnering Careca LS Elite, he stopped the clock in 29.18 seconds, a performance built on sharp turns, attacking lines and complete fluency from start to finish. It proved the round nobody could match.
Speaking afterwards, Guéry said: “It’s always fantastic to start the show with a win. Mexico is one of our favourite events of the year, the horses are feeling great and this arena is incredible.”
He added: “It was super competitive all the way through the class, and I wasn’t sure we could hold onto the top place, particularly with Cian being last to go.”
That concern was well founded. Ireland’s Cian O’Connor, the final rider into the arena, delivered a late challenge aboard 10-year-old Genghis Khan and came within touching distance of the lead. His time of 29.92 seconds fell just short, but it brought the crowd to life in a dramatic finale.
Third place went to Jordan Coyle with King Kannan GP, while Derin Demirsoy and Que Cera van’t Ruytershof filled fourth. Simon Delestre, riding Olga van de Kruishoeve, completed the leading group in 30.82 seconds.
Course designer Anderson Lima drew praise for a track that made full use of the expansive grass arena. Riders were encouraged to attack throughout, and the margins told the story of a fiercely contested class, with only 2.35 seconds separating the top nine combinations.
Beyond the competition itself, the opening class also formed part of the Qatar–Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, an initiative linking elite equestrian sport with wider cultural exchange. The programme extends across events in Mexico City, Cairo and Rabat, using sport as a meeting point between nations.
His Excellency Mohammed Al Kuwari, Advisor on Latin America for Years of Culture, said: “Today reminds us that sport speaks a universal language, bringing people together in a shared spirit of tradition. With its deep heritage and universal appeal, equestrian sport offers a powerful platform for people-to-people connection and reflects the values of mutual respect at the heart of our Year of Culture partnership with Mexico this year.”
The Mexico leg is the second stage of the 2026 championship season, with Campo Marte recently confirmed on the calendar through to 2033 — further recognition of its status as one of the circuit’s most admired venues.
Attention now turns to the next team contest, with another major crowd expected as the week gathers momentum in the Mexican capital. Longines Global Champions Tour Mexico remains one of the sport’s standout stops, blending elite competition with a distinctive setting and passionate support.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz