Press release from Longines Global Champions Tour, edited by World of Showjumping

As the sun dipped behind the superyachts in Port Hercule, Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) and the ever-reliable Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines) delivered a showstopping performance to win the CSI5* 1.50m Prix Fédération Équestre de la Principauté de Monaco, on the second day of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco.

Set under the floodlights in the most compact arena on the calendar, the competition unfolded over two rounds - a demanding first round followed by a nail-biting jump-off. Out of a field stacked with world-class talent, Van der Vleuten and his 15-year-old gelding rose to the occasion, producing a sensational double clear in 32.22 seconds to top the leaderboard.

The Dutch star beamed after his win, talking to GCTV: “Beauville was fantastic again tonight. It was a very technical course in a difficult arena - the fences are so close you have to be aware as they come up too quickly, and the horses need to help you in some situations. I think I did one less stride between one and two compared to everyone else, and he found the rollbacks super easy, so I didn’t have to push too hard.”

Alexa Ferrer (FRA) and Vitalhorse Fleur d’Oz (Olimbos Merze x Papillon Rouge) put in a stylish performance to finish second with a time of 33.50 seconds, while Max Kühner (AUT) – who set the early pace as first to go – secured third aboard EIC Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue x Douglas) with a tidy 33.91 seconds.