Josh Collins and Cornel, winners of the 4CYTE CSI1*-W World Cup Qualifier at Jumping@Willinga. Image by Evergem Media House.
Josh Collins and Cornel claimed the 4CYTE CSI1*-W World Cup Qualifier at Jumping@Willinga this month – a result that headlined five days of competition at Willinga Park, where 1,156 starts were recorded across two arenas from 9 to 13 September.
Classes ranged from 80cm to 1.55m and included Senior and Young Rider Trans-Tasman Tests, individual Junior and Young Rider classes, developing-horse divisions and six Sunday Spectacular finals.
THE 4CYTE WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Held on Saturday 12 September, the feature class brought 29 combinations into the Grandstand Arena. Only four finished the first round without penalty. Josh Collins and the 15-year-old grey stallion Cornel crossed in 79.05 seconds, only 0.95 seconds inside the time allowed. James Mooney and KPH Cavatina, Victoria Stuckey and Jaybee Ballon D’or and Emma Collins and Oaks Abracadabra supplied the other clear rounds.
Josh Collins and Cornel jumping to victory. Image by Evergem Media House.
The leading 12 returned for the second round, where Mooney and KPH Cavatina set the first double clear in 53.81 seconds. Collins and Cornel answered with a clear in 49.34, taking 4.47 seconds from the target to win. Rhys Stones and Riverton Kanntador were faster again in 47.12, but four penalties from round one left them third. Collins and Cornel and Mooney and KPH Cavatina were the only two combinations to finish the class without penalty.
Collins and Cornel first joined the Australian World Cup qualifying circuit at Werribee in 2021. They won the 4CYTE Grand Prix Spectacular at Willinga Park in 2022 and returned in 2025 to place fifth in the World Cup after two penalty-free rounds. Saturday’s victory added the World Cup title to an established record at Willinga Park.
“Saturday’s victory added
the World Cup title to an
established record…”
NEW ZEALAND WINS THE SENIOR TEST AT WILLINGA
The Senior Trans-Tasman Teams on Thursday 10 September was the second Test of the 2026 series after Australia Green won the opening contest at Waratah in August. New Zealand, Australia Green and Australia Gold each fielded four combinations over two rounds at 1.45m, with the best three scores counting in each round.
New Zealand won the Senior Trans-Tasman Teams event. Image by Evergem Media House.
Australia Green led after round one on four penalties, one ahead of New Zealand. Australia Gold carried 21 penalties into the second round. New Zealand then added only four to finish on nine. Josh Collins and Cornel completed both rounds without penalty, Sam Whale and Fleur DeLacour followed four penalties in the opener with a clear and Jake Lambert and Gloria Massuere added four after one time penalty in round one. Katie Meredith and Sapphire SSNZ’s score was discarded in both rounds.
Australia Green added eight penalties in round two to finish second on 12. Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZHP completed both rounds without penalty. Rhys Stones and Ballentyne, Jack Barker and Cornets Prinzess, and Sam Williams and Cavalli Park Ciara each carried four penalties in the second round, with one of those scores discarded. Collins and Cornel and Lever and Billionaire NZHP were the only double clears in the class.
Australia Gold placed third on 33 penalties, with Alexander Jang and Parallax SCF producing a clear in the second round after four penalties in the first. The result left New Zealand and Australia with one Senior Test victory each across the two events.
AUSTRALIA WINS THE YOUNG RIDER SERIES
The Doolan Family Young Rider Trans-Tasman Teams Final brought five teams and 20 combinations into the Grandstand Arena on Friday 11 September. New Zealand had won the opening Test at Waratah, but Australia Young Rider Green answered at Willinga by finishing both rounds with zero counting penalties.
Australia Young Rider Green won the Young Rider Trans-Tasman Teams Final. Image by Evergem Media House.
Hannah Doolan and Tulara Lady Zirocca, Emily Lang-McMahon and Ellisimo, and Charlie Magnier and I’m Here each jumped double clear. Zara Young and Cornet Indiana recorded four penalties in round one and eight in round two, with their score discarded in each round.
New Zealand finished second on nine penalties, ahead of Australia Blue on 15, Australia Gold on 17 and the combined Anzacs team on 20. Johanna Wylaars and Demietta were double clear for New Zealand, while Liam Rutland and Glenara Chartelle M incurred only one time penalty across the two rounds.
With one Test victory to each nation, the series bonus points left Australia and New Zealand level and sent the Young Rider title to a deciding jump-off. Rutland and Glenara Chartelle M went first for New Zealand, finishing in 36.95 seconds with four penalties at fence 11. Magnier and I’m Here followed for Australia and jumped clear in 36.67 seconds to secure the series.
INDIVIDUAL YOUNG RIDER HONOURS
Across Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, the individual Young Rider classes produced four different winners. Emily Lang-McMahon and Ellisimo opened the division on Wednesday 9 September by winning the Ironstone Black Angus Young Rider 1.30m in 33.54 seconds. Charlie Magnier and I’m Here headed seven double clears in Thursday’s 37-combination King Ranch Equestrian Young Rider 1.35m, winning in 33.90.
Ruby Rao celebrates her win aboard Ruby JK. Image by Evergem Media House.
Ruby Rao and Ruby JK won Friday’s Yandoo Equestrian Services Young Rider 1.35m in 74.14 seconds, nine hundredths ahead of Millicent Quigley-Smith and Tulara Calliado. Only three of the 19 combinations finished without penalty. On Sunday, Molly Moffatt and Onessa MVNZ won the 39-combination Oreana Property Group Young Rider Spectacular in 48.16. Emily Lang-McMahon and Ellisimo were the only other double clear in 49.05.
LANG-MCMAHON & HONOLULU COMPLETE THE JUNIOR SWEEP
Elkee Lang-McMahon and Yandoo Honolulu started three Junior classes on three separate competition days and won all three without adding a penalty. They opened the run on Wednesday 9 September in the Wanderlust Farm Junior 1.20m, where a clear special two-phase round with a second-phase time of 30.65 seconds put them at the head of the result.
They returned on Friday 11 September for the 40-combination Wanderlust Farm Junior 1.20m and again finished double clear, this time in 37.11 seconds. The Coolmore Junior Spectacular on Sunday 13 September brought 36 combinations into the final. Eight reached the jump-off and five completed a second clear. Lang-McMahon and Honolulu won in 30.90, finishing 2.46 seconds ahead of Tanner Robinson and Maghiwi MSNZ.
In separate classes, Lang-McMahon and K.S Thomas shared second in Wednesday’s Ironstone Black Angus Young Rider 1.30m after matching Charlee Dobbin and Deedle on 35.09. She also guided K.S Dylan to second in Saturday’s Turyia Farms Ruby Spectacular Young Horse Section.
“Elkee Lang-McMahon
started three Junior classes
on three separate competition
days and won all three…”
EmilyLang-McMahon and Ellisimo. Image by Evergem Media House.
REPEAT WINNERS EMERGE ACROSS THE PROGRAM
Lang-McMahon was one of nine riders to win more than one individual class across the five days. Evie Magnier recorded the most victories with four across three horses. Quinn Z carried her to wins in Thursday’s MRX Group Medium Tour Junior 1.05m and Friday’s MRX Group Medium Tour Junior 1.10m. She also won The Rider’s Boutique Small Tour Junior 1.00m on Friday with Master Stevie G and Saturday’s Wanderlust Farm Medium Tour Junior 1.10m with Oganella.
Melissa Turner and Rosthwaite Zanti were unbeaten in the three Adult Medium Tour classes. They won Thursday’s R & L Haulage Medium Tour 1.05m, Friday’s GeoPro Footing Medium Tour 1.10m and Saturday’s Netier Medium Tour 1.10m.
Frida Lindgren and JEP Diadora. Image by Evergem Media House.
Frida Lindgren and JEP Diadora won Thursday’s Takapoto Estate Ruby Open 1.30m and Saturday’s Redleaf Lodge Ruby Spectacular Open Section. Sasha Manning and Rotherfield Areeva took Thursday’s Double C Farms Large Tour 1.15m and Saturday’s Canberra Airport Large Tour 1.20m, while Alexa Kong and Sherbet Wizz Fizz won Thursday’s Kallaroo Park Equestrian Centre 95cm Junior and Saturday’s McEvoy Family Small Tour Junior 1.00m. Chris Chugg, James Arkins and Lane Clarke each recorded two victories with different horses.
SATURDAY PUTS DEVELOPING HORSES IN FOCUS
Saturday 12 September featured the Futurity and Ruby Spectaculars for developing horses following the earlier qualifying classes. Four horses completed both rounds of the 25-combination Construction Control Futurity Spectacular without penalty. Chris Chugg and CF Carlotta won in 36.43 seconds, only 0.16 ahead of Emma Collins and Diamond B Chatterbox.
The Ruby Spectacular was divided into Young Horse and Open sections. Only three of 20 combinations reached the jump-off in the Turyia Farms Ruby Spectacular Young Horse Section. James Arkins and Rosthwaite Morpheus won with a second clear in 43.48 seconds, finishing 1.92 ahead of Lang-McMahon and K.S Dylan. The Redleaf Lodge Ruby Spectacular Open Section sent eight combinations to the jump-off and produced six double clears. Frida Lindgren and JEP Diadora won in 41.25.
Liam Rutland and CP Diorissimo won the 13-combination Liz Watson 1.20m 5- and 6-Year-Old Spectacular in 37.22 seconds, finishing 4.20 ahead of Tess McInerney and Ziella. The first five combinations all completed both rounds without penalty.
Liam Rutland and CP Diorissimo. Image by Evergem Media House.
SIX SPECTACULAR WINNERS ON SUNDAY
The Grandstand Arena staged three finals on Sunday 13 September. Alexander Jang and Parallax SCF won the 32-combination Hisway Mini Prix Spectacular with a double clear in 38.82 seconds, finishing 2.61 ahead of Amber Fuller and Balian DN Hop Z. Molly Moffatt and Onessa MVNZ won the Oreana Property Group Young Rider Spectacular and Elkee Lang-McMahon and Yandoo Honolulu took the Coolmore Junior Spectacular.
Ring 2 carried the Amateur, Thoroughbred and Children’s finals. Teigan Matthews and Baloubell won the Karaka Park & GPI Racing Amateur Spectacular with a double clear in 36.59 seconds. Tyla Smith and Game Player supplied the clear round in the Kolora Lodge TB Spectacular to win in 74.77. Chloe Bell and Chio MS were the faster of two double clears in the MRX Group Children’s Spectacular, stopping the clock at 33.26.
Teigan Matthews and Baloubell won the Karaka Park & GPI Racing Amateur Spectacular. Image by Evergem Media House.
With 228 riders and 362 horses competing across Jumping@Willinga, the field reflected the full progression of the sport across the five-day program. Developing horses stepped into feature arenas, Juniors and Young Riders rode under championship and team pressure, and established combinations took on a World Cup under lights. EQ
Full results from Jumping@Willinga 2026 can be found here via Equipe.
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