Last-Minute Decision Pays Off for Simon McCarthy and Igor GPH in the $85,000 Modelo Grand Prix CSI2*

26 JUL 26 Ocala, FL

A rider in equestrian gear jumps a brown horse over a yellow-striped hurdle during a show jumping competition, with plants and barriers in the arena.

Ocala, FL – A field of 44 horse-and-rider combinations representing 14 nations gathered at the WEC Grand Arena for the $85,000 Modelo Grand Prix CSI2* during Week VII of the 2026 Summer Series. Oscar Soberon, an FEI Level III course designer, presented a challenging track, but it was Ireland’s Simon McCarthy who answered every question, producing the fastest jump-off aboard his new partner, Igor GPH (Harley x Crawford 5), owned by Liston Johnson.

Soberon’s (USA) course proved to be a true test, with the triple combination catching out many throughout the evening. Only five combinations managed to stay within the tight time allowed while leaving every rail in the cups to advance to the jump-off.

A rider on a brown horse jumps over an obstacle decorated with lion statues and flowers during an equestrian event.
Simon McCarthy and Igor GPH scored their first international Grand Prix victory as a pair in the $85,000 Modelo Grand Prix CSI2*. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

David Cameron (AUS) was first to return aboard Beijing LS La Silla, stopping the clock in an efficient 43.21 seconds but adding four faults. Lauren Hough (USA) followed with Candeux, but also had a rail down in a slightly slower time.

McCarthy was next to return and found himself in a familiar position. “This has happened to me before, where I’ve gone third or fourth and the first couple of people have had rails, and I’ve gone in with absolutely no plan and completely messed it up,” he laughed. “So I used this as a good learning exercise today, and I just stuck with my plan.”

Everything fell into place for the new partnership in the jump-off. “We haven’t done so many jump-offs, but I had the numbers that I wanted to do everywhere, and it all came up easily for me. He jumped even better in the second round than he did in the first round.”

A rider in formal attire sits on a decorated horse in an arena at night. The stands have a few spectators, and foliage frames the foreground.
“It’s nice to know he likes to fight in the jump-offs as much as I do.” – Simon McCarthy. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

The pair attacked every inside track on the short course, crossing the timers fault-free in 39.74 seconds, more than two seconds faster than the rest of the field.

McCarthy was especially pleased to discover another side of the 13-year-old KWPN gelding. “It’s nice to know he likes to fight in the jump-offs as much as I do.”

He also credited the team behind the talented gelding. “I have two great horses right now, Igor and [Narcotique v/h Dingenshof]. I’m incredibly grateful to Brookside Pine Farms and Berry Porter for acquiring the horse, and to Liston and Victoria Johnson for buying the horse for me to compete. I know Liston’s going to want to take it off me sooner rather than later if he keeps winning these classes, but it’s an incredible opportunity to have a horse like this, and I’m just so grateful that they believe in me and they’re really standing behind me.”

A group of people and a rider on horseback pose at an award ceremony, holding a large check and trophies, in front of a Modelo sign and floral arrangements.
Simon McCarthy and Igor GPH at the awards presentation with Jeff Bucklen and Samantha Downs of Modelo, alongside Jim Wolf of World Equestrian Center. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Ocala wasn’t originally part of McCarthy’s plans, but a last-minute decision to head south proved worthwhile. “I decided on Sunday to come down, and it’s just great here. The venue is incredible. I love coming here. The venue in Ohio I’ve also been very successful at, so it’s definitely a good luck charm for me here at World Equestrian Center,” he expressed. 

“Obviously, to the naked eye, it’s unbelievable, but what people don’t see behind the scenes with the stabling is incredible. There’s so much space to ride. The indoors are air-conditioned. It really is just an amazing place to be for a week, or however long you’re here. I think you can see the horses jump incredibly here. It’s nice that the Roberts family have really put a lot back into our sport.”

A rider in a black helmet and jacket jumps a dark horse over an obstacle decorated with lion statues and red flowers in an arena.
Chloe Reid and Dragonball were the only other pair to deliver a fault-free jump-off for second place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Chloe Reid (USA) was the next to return and the only other rider to produce a fault-free jump-off. Aboard Team Reid LLC’s nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding Dragonball (Diamant de Semilly x Landjunge), Reid crossed the timers in 42.01 seconds to secure second place.

An equestrian rider in formal attire guides a gray horse over a green and yellow jump during a show jumping competition, surrounded by flowers and a white fence.
Juan Vegas and Clarisimo secured third after posting the fastest four-fault jump-off round. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Venezuela’s Juan Vegas was the final rider to challenge the clock, producing a quick 40.93-second effort aboard his own 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Clarisimo, but an unlucky rail dropped the pair into third. Vegas also earned the $5,000 bonus as the highest-placed U25 rider, while winning groom Roberto Lazaro received the $1,000 Groom Award.

$85,000 Modelo Grand Prix CSI2* Results

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

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