Ben Maher went from down and out to up and over at Spruce Meadows.
One day after falling from Catelly during the BMO Nations’ Cup, the British Olympian returned to the International Ring on Sunday and captured the biggest prize of the 2026 ‘Masters’ aboard Enjeu de Grisien.
That is one way to get back in the saddle.
Maher won the $5-million CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, surviving two demanding rounds and then racing through a six-horse jump-off in a clear 41.40 seconds.
Nobody caught him, giving the British rider one of show jumping’s four Rolex Grand Slam Majors and launching his own pursuit of the sport’s elusive grand slam.
Sunday began with much of the attention on Germany’s Richard Vogel, who arrived with a chance to win a third consecutive major. He had won the Dutch Masters and Aachen, putting history within reach on the grass in Calgary.
Spruce Meadows had other plans.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela and his team presented a two-round Grand Prix test to 39 horse-and-rider combinations.
The opening round reduced that field to 12, with scores carrying forward and the qualifiers returning in reverse order. Seven combinations emerged from Round 1 clear. Nayel Nassar carried one time fault, while Maher, McLain Ward, Christian Kukuk and Steve Guerdat each advanced with four faults.
The second trip rearranged everything. Six riders finished the two rounds tied on four faults, requiring a jump-off to settle the richest competition of the week. Maher entered early and gave the rest of the field something serious to chase. Enjeu de Grisien stayed clean while stopping the clock at 41.40 seconds. Vogel still had his shot at history, but a rail at the double combination ended the Grand Slam bid. When American Lillie Keenan, the final rider, could not dislodge Maher, the title belonged to Britain.
A fall on Saturday, and a major on Sunday. Horses have a way of keeping even Olympic champions humble. The result rewarded nerve as much as speed.
Maher began the decisive round carrying no margin for another mistake, yet chose a pace aggressive enough to pressure everyone behind him. Keenan finished second with Fasther, while Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte took third. Van Beek placed fourth and Vogel settled for fifth, an impressive result that nevertheless felt like heartbreak given what had been available.
For Maher, the win added another title to a career that includes Olympic gold and victories on many of the sport’s biggest stages.
For Enjeu de Grisien, it was proof that the 12-year-old gelding could answer a difficult question on one of show jumping’s most intimidating fields.
Together, they turned the final act into a comeback story.
“They’re tough competitions to win,” Maher said of the Rolex Grand Slam Majors. “We travel year-round to five-star events, but the Rolex Majors are the pinnacle of the sport, and we keep coming back and we keep trying.”
Now everybody else will be chasing Maher when the Grand Slam series continues.
Top 12 Placings for the CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex
Ben Maher (GBR) & Enjeu de Grisien
Lillie Keenan (USA) & Fasther
Steve Guerdat (SUI) & Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte
Roy Van Beek (BEL) & Cavoiro – H OLD
Richard Vogel (GER) & United TouchS
Katie Laurie (NZL) & Djanjo II
Sameh El Dahan (EGY) & Oscar-A
Yuri Mansur (BRA) & QH Alfons Santo Antonio
Nayel Nassar (EGY) & ESI Ali
Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Farrel
Christian Kukuk (GER) & Checker 47
McLain Ward (USA) & High Star Hero
The clear rounds carried value beyond prize money and position.
Through its Clear Rounds for Heart Health initiative, CPKC pledged $10,000 to Calgary’s Libin Cardiovascular Institute for every clear round, including rounds carrying only time faults.
Fourteen qualifying rounds produced a $140,000 contribution for cardiovascular research and patient care. Maher, Keenan, Guerdat and Roy Van Beek each delivered two.
Clear Rounds for Heart Health
Ben Maher (GBR) × 2
Lillie Keenan (USA) x2
Steve Guerdat (SUI) × 2
Roy Van Beek (BEL) × 2
Richard Vogel (GER)
Katie Laurie (NZL)
Sameh El Dahan (EGY)
Yuri Mansur (BRA)
Daniel Coyle (IRL)
Nayel Nassar (EGY)
The afternoon Grand Prix supplied the richest drama, but it was not the only international victory Sunday.
Ireland’s Jordan Coyle and For Gold captured the Suncor Cup Winning Round 1.50m to start competition on the International Ring.
Thirty riders had qualified through Thursday’s ATCO Cup, with the leading 10 returning for a second round in reverse order. Coyle was one of three Irish riders in that final group. He and For Gold attacked efficiently and finished in 55.80 seconds, leaving the remaining combinations to take their chances against the clock.
World No. 1 Vogel was last to go and had an opportunity to steal the result. One fallen rail instead confirmed Coyle’s victory, giving Vogel two near-misses on a Sunday when the German star repeatedly found himself one mistake from the top.
Top 10 Placing from the Suncor Cup Winning Round
Jordan Coyle (IRL) & For Gold
Sean Jobin (CAN) & Arkuga
Tim Gredley (GBR) & Vuitton of Picobello Z
Richard Vogel (GER) & Chember 3
Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Gisborne VDL
Darragh Kenny (IRL) & Zero K
Katie Laurie (NZL) & ZF Chacco Rio
Kyle Tim (CAN) & Glamour du Chanu
Harrie Smolders (NED) & Estrello Eh Z
Thibault Philippaerts (BEL) & Royal Van’t Schawijke
The day also produced a world champion outside the International Ring. Troy Wood of the United States won the 2026 Blacksmith World Championships at only 23, taking the top prize in a competition celebrating the precision, speed and craft of farriery.
It was a fitting addition to a final day that demanded different forms of excellence: riders reading distances at full gallop, horses clearing massive fences and blacksmiths shaping hot metal under pressure.
The ‘Masters’ ended with an Irish winner, a young American world champion and Maher holding the trophy everyone had come to Calgary to chase.
Vogel’s Grand Slam journey is over for now. Maher’s has just begun. And after spending Saturday on the ground, he left Spruce Meadows standing tallest of all.