Sharn Wordley and Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z claimed the second leg of the 2026/27 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League in Puebla, Mexico, producing the only clear round of the competition to secure victory without a jump-off.
The New Zealand rider delivered a composed performance with his long-time partner, completing Anderson Lima’s demanding 1.60m track without a fault. With no other combination able to match the clear, Wordley secured his first Longines FEI Jumping World Cup victory.
The result came in a competition where the technical demands of the course produced faults throughout the field. A related distance featuring water trays, a delicate white plank and a narrow vertical late in the track all contributed to a challenging test for the international field.
Wordley’s clear left Conor Swail and Casturano to finish second on four faults, with Juan Bautista Pidutti Hortas and Ninvaro PS taking third, also on four faults. Swail completed his round in 80.77 seconds, while Pidutti Hortas stopped the clock at 80.94.
For Wordley, the victory represents a significant milestone with Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z, the 15-year-old gelding with whom he has developed a long-standing partnership. The combination had previously contested World Cup competition together, but Puebla marked their first victory at the level.
The result also moves Wordley into the North American League standings following the opening two legs of the 2026/27 campaign. Beat Mändli and Qoachella won the season opener in Traverse City, making Puebla the second stop on the seven-leg North American League schedule.
The North American League now moves on to its third leg at the Washington International Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, scheduled for 20–24 October. The league continues through Toronto, Arcadia, Thermal and Ocala before the 2027 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg, Sweden.
