Text © World of Showjumping

Harrie Smolders (NED) and Monaco (Cassini II x Contender) won the last Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year at the 63^rd edition of CHI Geneva, topping the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix worth 1,200,000 Euro.

Sunday’s Major-win marked a milestone for Monaco; this was the first ever five-star Grand Prix victory for the 15-year-old gelding who throughout his career has showed remarkable consistency. With Smolders, Monaco has finished second on eleven occasions outside championships. “I always support the sport and I cheer for everybody, but Monaco really deserved this victory today,” Smolders said afterwards. “It is a milestone, these classes are very prestigious and it is hard to win one – I can tell from experience. I am very grateful and today showed again the horsemanship we have with my horse, the connection, the bond, the trust and the courage you can give to your horse – and that is an amazing feeling.”  

As pair number six out from the 40-strong starting field, Smolders and Monaco were the first to post a clear over the track set by Gerard Lachat (SUI) and Gregory Bodo (FRA). Counting 14 obstacles and 16 efforts, the course included the Alexandre III Bridge-oxer at fence three, followed by a double of liverpools at 5ab and a Rolex triple combination at 7abc.

Current world number one Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and King Edward (Edward 28 x Feo) followed Smolders and delivered a clear, as did home hero Martin Fuchs (SUI) on Leone Jei (Baltic VDL x Corland) – who entered the arena at Palexpo as the Rolex live contenders following their win in the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, at Spruce Meadows in September.

The first round was not short of drama though; while ten horse-and-rider combinations delivered a clear, some of the strongest pairs in the sport failed to find the answers to Lachat and Bodo’s questions. While Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Donatello d’Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville) as well as Cian O'Connor (IRL) aboard Bentley de Sury (Sunday de Riverland x Calvaro) had their dreams of a Major-win smashed when the final upright fell to floor, it was fence number nine that kept Rolex Testimonee Scott Brash (GBR) – the only rider ever to have won the Rolex Grand Slam-title – and Hello Jeffersson (Cooper van de Heffinck x Irco Mena) out of the jump-off, and for Daniel Deusser (GER) and Killer Queen VDM (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) it was the time allowed of 76 seconds that stood in their way.

Eventually, Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) on Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece x Canturo Bois Margot), Gregory Wathelet (BEL) on Bond Jamesbond de Hay (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan), Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) on Delta Del’Isle (Tibet Tame x Grain de Soleil), Ben Maher (GBR) on the impressive Point Break (Action-Breaker x Balou du Rouet), Gilles Thomas (BEL) on the powerful Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan), Peder Fredricson (SWE) on Catch Me Not S (Cardento 933 x Ramiro’s Son), and McLain Ward (USA) on Ilex (Baltic VDL x Chin Chin) all delivered clears and joined the jump-off together with Smolders, von Eckermann and Fuchs.

In the jump-off, Smolders and Monaco once again had the unfavourable position of being first to go, and by posting another clear in 41.74, threw the gauntlet down – the former world number one succeeding in his effort of putting pressure on those to come. Trying to chase down Smolders and Monaco, von Eckermann on King Edward as well as Fredricson on Catch Me Not S had a stop at the second fence, Fuchs and Leone Jei had two fences down, while de Luca parted ways with Denver de Talma at the penultimate oxer.

In the end, only the top three managed to produce a double clear result, with Martinengo Marquet taking the runner-up spot in 43.75 and Thomas taking third in 44.77. As the last pair out, Ward was on his way to another Major-win, only to see the last fence fall. With his time of 41.48 – the fastest of the competition – the American legend had to settle for fourth, followed by Maher in fifth.

“In the jump-off, it is a very difficult spot to go first, especially with all the horses and riders of the highest level coming after me,” Smolders explained about the disadvantage of being the pathfinder. “They are all watching you, they know how to copy you, where to leave out strides to go faster. I took my chances without knowing if it would be enough. Horses with bigger strides, especially in this ring, have a bit of an advantage in a jump-off. There were a few hard turns and the combination with the liverpools left in the jump-off. I went in without seeing anyone else, and I think I put the bar quite high. That is why they took more and more risk and that is where the faults came from.”

“Seeing Harrie’s round, I straight away thought that it was unbeatable,” third-placed Gilles Thomas said. “My horse is still young and we don’t really have the experience to go that fast. With not so many clears in the jump-off, I am very happy to be on the podium. Last year, we had a lot of doubt as to whether Ermitage would be sold or not. Finally, we decided not to sell and now it is starting to pay off. There was always a lot of pressure on me because I have to do it with Ermitage: He is so good, he can do everything, but you still need to get it done. Now I am a little bit proud of myself, that I have been able to give this to Ermitage, because he really deserves it all," the 26-year-old said. 

“It was one of the most difficult courses I have ever ridden,” the second placed Martinengo Marquet said. “My horse is fantastic, a horse like him can really change your career. My team deserves to experience a day like this. I am sure I could have taken more risk, but I am also sure that I am so happy this way – this is more than I could have ever asked for. I hope to have more chances at these amazing shows, to show what I can do. For today, everything is perfect as it is – I could not be happier.”

Commenting on the fact that only 10% of the riders in Geneva were women, with three of them qualified for the Grand Prix, Martinengo Marquet said: “It is interesting. I still believe, even if our sport is amazing in a way that it is equal for both genders, in terms of the responsibilities that women live with, like having a family, having a home, it is hard for us. I think I have a progressive husband who put me in the spotlight, he stepped back. The numbers show that so many girls start with horses, but then they get less and less. It is undoubtedly connected to the responsibilities that our society still gives women. There are things that we can do, and men simply can’t, and it is hard to put everything together. I have an amazing team and a husband who really gave me the chance, but it is not that clear for all women.”

As the new Rolex Grand Slam live contender, Smolders can now look forward to the next Major on home soil. “I am always looking forward to The Dutch Masters, even when I am not the Rolex live contender,” Smolders laughed when asked about the next Rolex Grand Slam Major, The Dutch Masters that take place in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands in March. “Now it is going to be even more special. The Dutch Masters is a show that inspired us as young kids, and now it is our turn to inspire the next generation.”