It was a nail-biting finish to the Maryland 5 Star CCI5* with Sunday’s show jumping phase. Once all the combinations had completed their rounds over Michel Valliancourt (CAN)’s course, it was Felix Vogg (SUI) and Cartania who were victorious. Vogg made history as the first Swiss rider to win two CCI5* events, having previously won the 2022 Luhmühlen CCI5* along with the 2025 Maryland 5 Star title.
“It’s just unbelievable; the horse was unbelievable,” Vogg said. “I wanted to win all week, but of course, many people want that. To have the mare deliver like she delivered is fantastic. All week she was mentally so strong.”
Vogg and Cartania came into the show jumping phase in second place behind overnight leaders Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist. Vogg and the 14-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Vogg and Phoenix Eventing S.à.r.l. kept their cool, having a smooth round while adding 0.4 time penalties to their dressage score of 28.3. They finished on an impressive score of 28.7 to secure top honors.
With a string of horses in his barn, Vogg wasn’t always able to prioritize Cartania. He slowly produced her and began focusing more on big competition plans with the mare this year. She earned her first international win back in August, and the pair’s success continued at Maryland.
“She is not the typical winner,” Vogg said. “She has always struggled a bit in dressage and a tiny bit in show jumping, but I think we got it all together now and hopefully we can keep going like this.”
Felix had to change his plans for his competition season after having an injury due to a fall at Badminton, but he still wanted to aim for a big event with Cartania. He was tentatively eyeing the FEI Eventing European Championships but, thinking the course might be too easy for the mare’s hallmark event of year, he decided to look at other options. In hindsight, Vogg said the course would have been ideal for Cartania, but the pair committed to attending the Maryland 5 Star with the help of an international travel grant.
“I’m even more happy that I made the ‘wrong’ decision,” Vogg said given the outcome of the weekend.
Monica Spencer and Artist End up in Second Place
Spencer and Artist finished in a commendable second place after strong performances throughout the week. They led at the end of the dressage phase and held onto that lead after one of four double-clear cross-country rounds (along with winners Vogg and Cartania). While the Spencer and the 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Spencer Eventing had a rail in hand for Sunday’s show jumping phase, they unfortunately knocked two rails to finish in second on a score of 31.7.
“I’m so happy with Max. That is a [personal-best] finishing score for us at a five star,” Spencer said. “To be second at a five-star is the stuff dream are made of, so I’m keeping it real. I’m just happy to be here, and I’m happy to have had the lead I had to allow me to still be in the position I am in.”
Spencer is coming up on two years in February since she made to the move to be based in the U.S. Despite it being challenging to leave family and friends back home in New Zealand, Spencer has enjoyed the opportunity.
“The time has flown by to be honest, and everyone has been so welcoming here,” Spencer said. “We love it here; we are just riding the wave. It has been an exciting time for us.”
Boyd Martin and Commando 3 Rise to Third
Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 moved up from fifth place to finish on the Maryland 5 Star podium. They had one of four double-clear show jumping rounds to finish as the top American pair in third place with a score of 38.3.
“For my horse, Commando 3, he is just a champion. He finished second at Kentucky and now third at Maryland and fourth at CHIO Aachen,” Martin said. “He has had a wonderful year, and I think the best is still to come. I think next year I would like to hopefully win one of these things.”
With having one of the top rounds of the day, Martin noted that it wasn’t an easy task with the solid course set by Valliancourt. He added that the ring at Maryland poses its own set of challenges.
“It’s quite spooky with the crowds being so close to you,” Martin said. “It’s also a square ring, not like rectangular rings, so you have one or two jumps in a line then you need to make a turn. There were some short distances and some long distances, and you had to skedaddle along to get the time.”
Martin and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Yankee Creek Ranch LLC managed to rise to the occasion and achieve a notable result.
For More:
View the results here.
Read more on our coverage from the 2025 Maryland 5 Star here.
