Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir Rise Above the Rain to Win the AON Grand Prix Presented by Rolex

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29/06/2026

Germany’s Richard Vogel once again proved unstoppable at Spruce Meadows, claiming victory in Sunday’s AON Grand Prix presented by Rolex (1.60m) aboard Gangster Montdesir. The triumph marked Vogel’s fourth win of the week at the ‘Pan American’, presented by Rolex, and his third victory on Sunday alone.

Persistent rain provided a challenging backdrop as 31 horse-and-rider combinations entered the iconic International Ring to tackle the demanding course designed by Mexican FEI course designer Anderson Lima. The track proved to be a true test, with faults scattered throughout the course rather than concentrated at any single obstacle.

At the end of the first round, only three combinations had managed to leave all the rails in place: New Zealand’s Katie Laurie and Django II, Germany’s Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir, and Czech rider Vaclav Stanek aboard Quintin.

For Stanek, however, the dream of a jump-off ended in heartbreak. Despite producing a faultless round, the Czech rider stopped the clock in 85.08 seconds, just 0.08 seconds over the time allowed, incurring a single time penalty and ultimately finishing third.

In the jump-off, Katie Laurie and Django II, winners of the ‘Continental’ Grand Prix earlier this summer, were the first to return to the ring. An unfortunate rail left the door open for Vogel, who capitalised on the opportunity with a composed and fault-free round.

Stopping the clock in 52.74 seconds, Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir secured the victory and put the finishing touches on an exceptional week in Calgary.

“At the beginning of the week, when he entered the International Ring for the first time, Gangster Montdesir was quite impressed by the atmosphere,” said Vogel after the class. “I’m even happier to see how quickly he developed and how well he jumped today.”

Behind the winning German combination, Katie Laurie and Django II finished as runners-up, while Vaclav Stanek and Quintin completed the podium.

The victory in the AON Grand Prix presented by Rolex further underlined Vogel’s extraordinary form and the depth of talent within his string of horses as the German rider continues to shine on one of the sport’s most prestigious stages.

Top 10 – AON Grand Prix presented by Rolex