Van Asten and Hotspot Strike First at the Longines Global Future Champions CSI4* Speed in Valkenswaard.

Veteran Hotspot proved why he remains one of the fastest horses on the circuit, and Van Asten made the most of it on home soil.

Mathijs van Asten (NED) claimed the CSI4* 1.50m Speed at the Longines Global Future Champions at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, designed by Peter Schumacher (GER) with 39 combinations on course and €28,200 in prize money. Van Asten crossed the finish in 68.71 seconds, one of only a handful to break the 70-second barrier, opening the weekend with a victory at home. “I couldn’t ask for a better start to the show. Hotspot jumped fantastic today and from the first fence I felt he was with me all the way.”

Hotspot is a 14-year-old chestnut KWPN stallion (Hors la Loi II x Nabab de Reve), owned by Van Asten and The Hotspot Group, a veteran horse that at 14 years of age continues competing at the highest level with the same speed and efficiency as ever.

Simon Delestre (FRA) finished second with Golden Boy DK, a 10-year-old chestnut SF gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Cash) owned by Philippe Berthol, clocking 69.35 seconds, just 0.64 seconds behind the Dutch rider. Marcus Ehning (GER) completed the podium with Coolio 42, a 13-year-old bay Holsteiner gelding (Casalito x Quidam de Revel) owned by Elmrock BV, stopping the clock at 69.42 seconds, less than a tenth of a second behind Delestre.

Kevin Jochems (NED) finished fourth with Quianna ter Wijnen, a 10-year-old grey BWP mare (Cardento x Erco van’t Roosakker) owned by Jean Luc De Pelsmaeker, in 71.36 seconds. João Victor Castro (BRA) rounded out the Top 5 with Obama de la Liniere, a 12-year-old bay BWP stallion (Marius Claudius x Golden Hawk) owned by Ecurie François Mathy, completing his round in 71.87 seconds.

Latin & Pan American Presence

João Victor Castro (BRA) was the top Latin and Pan American performer in fifth place. Natalie Dean (USA) seventh in 72.66 seconds, Laura Kraut (USA), No. 2 in the Tu Mundo Ecuestre Pan American Show Jumping Ranking, tenth in 73.18 seconds, Marilyn Little (USA) fourteenth, Jorge Matte (CHI) fifteenth, Eugenio Garza (MEX) nineteenth with the last clear round, Eduardo Menezes (BRA) twenty-second with 4 faults, Felipe Amaral (BRA) thirty-first with 8 faults, Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) thirty-third, Yuri Mansur (BRA), former Tu Mundo Ecuestre Latin Ranking leader, thirty-fifth with 12 faults, Rayna Rizvi (USA) thirty-sixth and Ignacio Maurin (ARG) thirty-eighth with 16 faults.

Top 5 Results — CSI4* 1.50m Speed | Longines Global Future Champions — Tops International Arena Valkenswaard 2026