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Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper Dazzle Under the Lights to Win €1.5 Million LGCT Grand Prix of Monaco
One word: Charged.
Monaco lit up in spectacular fashion as Simon Delestre and the incredible Cayman Jolly Jumper delivered a masterclass in speed and precision to win the €1.5 million Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco. In the heart of Port Hercule, under the lights and with a sold-out crowd on their feet, Delestre blazed through the jump-off in 32.06 seconds—a full 1.84 seconds faster than second-place finisher Harry Charles aboard Sherlock.
It was a Grand Prix defined by precision, risk, and nerves of steel. Dutch rider Kim Emmen and Imagine N.O.P. claimed a well-deserved third, just off the leaders’ pace with a fast, clean round of 34.08 seconds.
Held under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the eighth stage of the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour brought together royalty, celebrities, and elite athletes. The atmosphere was electric—an unforgettable fusion of sport and glamour, Monaco style.
“What can I say? Cayman is amazing. He’s a legend. It’s a dream to ride a horse like him… Winning here was my goal for the season. To actually do it means everything,” said an emotional Simon Delestre in his post-round interview with GCTV.
The Jump-Off: Pure Adrenaline
The jump-off was a showdown of champions. First in, Maikel van der Vleuten and O’Bailey van het Brouwershof N.O.P. set an aggressive pace but had a rail at the first part of the double, finishing in 33.59 seconds with four faults.
Pieter Devos, on his homebred Casual DV Z, delivered a faultless and elegant round in 35.39 seconds, briefly taking the lead before the arena erupted for Delestre.
Then came the moment of the night: Simon Delestre and Cayman sliced corners and went full throttle to the final fence, stopping the clock at 32.06 and raising the crowd to its feet.
Maximilian Weishaupt followed with a careful but competitive ride aboard Zuccero HV for 34.49 seconds, while Kim Emmen posted a bold and flowing round to steal into third with 34.08.
Last to go, Harry Charles had everything to play for. Riding with poise and precision, he and Sherlock crossed the line in 33.90 seconds, good enough for second—but not quite enough to catch the flying Frenchman.
Elsewhere, Andreas Schou looked to be in contention with Napoli vh Nederassenthof, but a rail at the double cost him the podium despite a time of 32.60 seconds.
Among other contenders:
- Rising star Mariana Frauches Chaves impressed in her LGCT Grand Prix debut with just one rail down.
- Lorenzo de Luca and Jappeloup opted for control over speed but dropped a pole at the combination.
- World number three Henrik von Eckermann had three fences down with Iliana, showing just how technical the course was.
- Fernando Martinez Sommer and Jur Vrieling both suffered faults that pushed them down the leaderboard.
Overall Standings After Monaco
Monaco brought a dramatic shift in the championship rankings. The top five now stand as follows:
- Gilles Thomas – 183 pts
- Simon Delestre – 158.2 pts
- Andreas Schou – 126 pts
- Denis Lynch – 112.2 pts
- Pieter Devos – 105 pts
Delestre’s win closes the gap on current leader Gilles Thomas, intensifying the battle for the overall title as the Tour heads into the second half of the season.
A Night to Remember
From superyachts moored steps from the arena to fans leaning over railings for a close-up view of the action, Monaco offered a setting like no other. Beneath the floodlights and with the Mediterranean shimmering in the background, 40 of the world’s top riders faced a track designed by Uliano Vezzani—a test of strategy, scope, and split-second reactions.
Among the distinguished guests were HRH Princess Caroline and Charlotte Casiraghi, who presented the trophies alongside Benjamin Manoukian, Longines Communications Director for France.
Next stop? London. After a sizzling summer start, the Longines Global Champions Tour pauses briefly before launching into the crucial second half. With every point now more valuable than ever, the road to the 2025 Championship crown promises even more fireworks.
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