In front of a packed, passionate Dutch crowd, Harrie Smolders and his 17-year-old partner Monaco delivered a fairy-tale performance—securing their second Grand Prix win of the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour in Valkenswaard.
Electric Atmosphere in Valkenswaard
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, the Longines Global Champions Tour made one of its most memorable stops at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard. The sold-out venue buzzed with energy as local hero Harrie Smolders took center stage in front of his home crowd.
A Storybook Win for Smolders and Monaco
Harrie Smolders, riding the ever-consistent 17-year-old Monaco, achieved another fairy-tale moment by delivering the only double-clear round of the Grand Prix, sealing their second LGCT Grand Prix victory of the 2025 season. The crowd’s roar resonated far beyond the arena lines, celebrating a stunning performance in what was clearly his moment.
In a tense showdown, only he and Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts advanced to the jump-off. Philippaerts, aboard Katanga vh Dingeshof, blazed through with breathtaking speed—only 0.01 seconds faster—but was cruelly denied by two rails down, giving the win to Smolders on home turf.
Visibly moved, Smolders praised his equine partner: “He only gets better the more he is aging… He is a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” he shared, expressing deep gratitude for his team and Monaco’s owners, Team Evergrate.
Redemption & Championship Implications
A year earlier at this same venue, Smolders and Monaco finished agonizingly close, but second. This time, they returned stronger, writing a perfect turnaround in front of the home fans. Despite triumphing in Valkenswaard, the coveted Golden Ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix went to Philippaerts as Smolders had already secured his spot with a previous win in Cannes.
Belgian star Gilles Thomas completed the podium in third, delivering a blistering first round with just one rail down to extend his lead in the overall championship standings—a dominant display in a sensational season.
Looking Ahead
With Valkenswaard behind them, the LGCT now shifts focus toward the final stretch of the season—beginning with the next leg in Riesenbeck, Germany (September 11–14). The championship race remains wide open as Smolders, Philippaerts, Thomas, and other top contenders charge toward the season’s finale.
Source: worldofshowjumping.com
