Must Watch Moment: Smolders and Monaco Rewrite Their LGCT Legacy in Cannes

There are victories that fill a trophy cabinet - and then there are victories that rewrite the story entirely.

For Harrie Smolders and Monaco, Cannes 2025 was more than a win. It was redemption. It was recognition. And it was a rewriting of one of the most quietly compelling narratives in modern show jumping.

For years, they had come agonisingly close. Time and again, Smolders and his trusted 16-year-old partner, Monaco, found themselves just shy of the top step - runners-up in Monaco, podium regulars in London, A Coruña, and Valkenswaard. With five different horses, Smolders had conquered Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix classes before. But somehow, this pairing - one of the most seasoned, stylish, and seamless in the sport - had never quite found the stars aligned.

Until LGCT Cannes 2025.

Under the glittering floodlights of the Stade des Hespérides, the Dutch rider and his ever-consistent Holsteiner gelding finally delivered the fairytale finish they’d been chasing. In a high-stakes jump-off packed with talent, Smolders executed a round that blended efficiency, feel, and a whole lot of trust in his horse. Monaco - catlike, clever, and still as sharp as ever - rose to the occasion with the composure of a true veteran. Together, they stopped the clock in 42.30 seconds, edging out a blazing-fast effort from France’s own Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper by just four-tenths of a second.

To the casual fan, it may read simply as a win. But to those who have followed their journey - who’ve seen the close calls, the countless clears, the consistency without the crown - it was a moment loaded with meaning. This wasn’t just a victory in Cannes. It was a culmination.

Smolders and Monaco first joined forces in 2017, and have since built a partnership that is all rhythm and respect. The gelding, by Cassini II out of a Contender dam, has become one of the most admired horses on Tour - not just for his scope and stride, but for his tactical intelligence.

“He’s so smart,” Smolders told GCTV after the win. “He reads the course. He’s not surprised by anything - if I angle a fence or ask something unusual, he’s with me. That’s years of knowing each other.”

That connection proved critical in Cannes. With rails falling early and a jump-off that demanded sharp decisions and brave lines, Smolders had the benefit of riding late in the order. But more importantly, he had the benefit of riding a horse he knows better than anyone.

“I already had the plan in my head,” he explained. “Even after watching a few, I stuck with it. With Monaco, you can do that - he knows the game.”

It was a class that demanded perfection. And in a season already packed with highlights, this felt like something different. Something overdue.

In 2023, they were arguably the ultimate bridesmaids - never off the pace, always in the fight, but never on top. They finished second in Monaco, third in London and A Coruña, fifth in the LGCT Super Grand Prix of Prague. It became part of their story. Consistency without the fairytale.

Now, in 2025, they’ve rewritten the ending.

The win secures their golden ticket for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix  in the GC Playoffs in Prague - another coveted title that has thus far eluded them. And for Smolders, the hunger is still there.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “I’ve come here for so many years and never won this Grand Prix. Now it’s ticked off the list. But there’s more to come.”

With his signature precision and calm intensity, Smolders has proven time and again that he’s built for the big moments. A former LGCT Champion in 2023, his words carry the weight of someone who understands the grind behind the glamour.

“The level on this Tour is the highest in the sport,” he said. “To win a Grand Prix, any Grand Prix, takes everything - your horses, your team, your people behind the scenes. It’s never just you. This is a big milestone for all of us.”

Indeed, it is.

Because last night in Cannes, Smolders and Monaco didn’t just win a Grand Prix. They cemented a legacy - together, exactly where they belong.