Must-Watch Moments from Prague: Inside some of the GC Playoffs’ Most Unforgettable Highlights

When the lights go down and the pressure peaks inside Prague’s O₂ arena, the sport’s defining moments unfold - quietly, powerfully, and often when you least expect them.

From masterclass preparation to breakthrough performances and stories of resilience, the GC Playoffs once again delivered scenes that captured the true heart of show jumping.

Here are three must-watch moments from this year’s GC Prague Playoffs that every fan needs to relive.

Peder Fredricson: The Postman Delivers the Blueprint

There’s something almost meditative about watching Peder Fredricson at work.

A ten-time Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix winner, the 2021 LGCT Champion, a multi-stage winner with the Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses, and now a mid-season transfer to the Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana in 2025, Fredricson is as analytical as he is instinctive. His reputation as “the postman” comes from one simple truth - he always delivers when it counts.

At the 2025 GCL Super Cup Final, Peder rode Alcapone des Carmille - a 15-year-old gelding by Diamant de Semilly out of a Heartbreaker mare - and gave GCTV viewers a rare glimpse into the mindset of a champion.

In the GCTV Post Studio, Fredricson broke down his meticulous course walk routine with remarkable detail:

“I walk the course in meters first, and I write that down – how many meters it is in between each fence, and how many strides I will do, and if that will be long or short. Then, after that, I walk the course in strides, just to feel the rhythm of the course and so on...”

Then comes the mental rehearsal:

“When I’m done, I visualise it, just to get it from my brain to my stomach, three or four times, just so I really get that feeling that I’ve ridden the course already - then I forget about it.”

It’s a masterclass in mental clarity and physical discipline - the kind of insight that defines elite sport. 

>> Watch the full GCTV interview to see how Peder Fredricson prepares to deliver under the brightest lights <<

Maximilian Weishaupt & Zuccero HV: The Clear-Round Machines

Perfection under pressure - that’s what Maximilian Weishaupt and Zuccero HV achieved in Prague.

Riding for Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym – the 2023 GCL Super Cup Champions – Max joined his brother Philipp and Christian Kukuk as part of a powerhouse trio. Yet it was the new partnership of Max and Zuccero that quietly stole the spotlight.

Across the entire GCL Super Cup campaign, they were the only horse-and-rider combination to keep a completely clean sheet. Not a single rail fell. Not one mistake. And in a Final where just five of eighteen combinations managed to produce a clear round, their precision stood apart as something exceptional, and their partnership became one of the standout stories of the week.

It was calm, calculated, and ice-cool under pressure - a statement performance from a new duo that has gelled faster than anyone expected. Their journey only began earlier this season at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Monaco, where they finished fourth in their very first LGCT Grand Prix together, jumping double clear under the lights of Port Hercule.

Zuccero HV, a 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion by VDL Zirocco Blue and formerly ridden by show jumping legend Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, has found instant harmony with Weishaupt; their rounds are a study in rhythm and restraint - calm, connected, and utterly commanding. From that debut in Monaco to this defining moment in Prague, Weishaupt and Zuccero HV have proven they’re not just a pairing to watch - they’re a pairing to fear.

For those who love to analyse what makes a round great, this is unmissable.

>> Watch Max Weishaupt and Zuccero HV’s ice-cool clear in the GCL Super Cup Final <<

Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida: The Call-Up Who Rose to the Occasion

Sometimes the most inspiring stories are written at the last minute.

When Jana Wargers was ruled out through injury just days before the GC Playoffs, Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida received the call - a late substitution for the Basel Cosmopolitans on the sport’s biggest stage.

Alongside Andreas Schou and Marlon Módolo Zanotelli, Rodrigo helped steer the team to a remarkable fourth-place finish in the GCL Super Cup Final - just seconds off the podium. Riding his 10-year-old mare, Karonia.L, he held his nerve, kept it clean, and made his mark.

It was also his birthday on Saturday - a fitting twist for a rider whose composure and quiet determination shone when it mattered most. Reflecting on his Semi-Final performance, Rodrigo shared:

“I knew it was one of the most important rounds of my career so far. The pressure was on, because at this level - with the best riders and horses in the world - we have to go clear, especially at this kind of show.”

It’s a story of opportunity, courage, and gratitude - the kind of behind-the-scenes moment that reminds us why the GCL is so compelling.

>> Watch our full Backstage Pass with Rodrigo Almeida as featured on GCTV <<

The Curtain Falls on Prague - But the Stories Live On

As the arena lights fade and the roar of Prague settles, these moments remain - etched into the fabric of the 2025 season. They’re the performances that remind us why this sport captivates: the skill, the pressure, the heart. The Playoffs may be done, but the journey doesn’t pause. Relive every stride, every decision, every second - all on GCTV.