Equestrian Elite: Top Horses Set to Electrify the Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid CSI 5*

By Jumper News on 2025-05-15

Madrid, Spain – May 13, 2025 – From 16–18 May, the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) returns to the iconic Club de Campo Villa de Madrid for leg 4 of the 2025 LGCT & GCL championship series . As the sun sets over the Spanish capital, a world-class cast of horses and riders will battle it out for glory – and all eyes are on the equine athletes powering the sport’s biggest stars.

These horses aren’t just contenders – they’re champions, legends, and rising stars ready to make headlines once again.

Champions Returning for Glory

Back to defend their crown are Christian Kukuk (GER) and Checker 47, the dynamic duo who triumphed in Madrid last year. Checker has become one of the most talked-about horses on the circuit, and the pressure is on to deliver a repeat performance.

Christian Ahlmann (GER) brings a formidable string to Madrid, including Mandato van de Neerheide, winner of the LGCT Grand Prix of Paris in 2023, and Dourkhan Hero Z, who narrowly missed the podium in Mexico City earlier this season.

***Sanne Thijssen*** (NED) & **Con Quidam RB**

Other previous LGCT Grand Prix winners in the field include:

Con Quidam RB, a proven winner with Sanne Thijssen (NED), including Madrid glory in 2023.
Luna van het Dennehof (BEL), Gilles Thomas’ superstar mare, who won Shanghai in 2024 and placed second this year.
Iron Dames Cala Mandia NRW, a force of nature under Katrin Eckermann (GER), with back-to-back Miami Beach wins in 2022 and 2023.
Chacco’s Girlstar, who carried Emanuele Camilli (ITA) to a sensational win in Mexico City just weeks ago.
Bonne Amie, Abdel Said’s (BEL) powerful mount, winner in Doha two years running.
Dexter de Kerglenn, Jeanne Sadran’s (FRA) breakout partner and victor in Paris 2024.

**Eduardo Álvarez Aznar** (ESP) & **Rockfeller de Pleville Bois Margot**

A Legendary Farewell

There won’t be a dry eye in the house as Rockfeller de Pleville Bois Margot makes his final appearance. The legendary gelding will retire this weekend after a storied career with Eduardo Álvarez Aznar (ESP), which included a headline-grabbing win in the 2024 LGCT Grand Prix of Rabat. Fittingly, his swansong will unfold on home soil in front of an adoring Madrid crowd.

FULL SCHEDULE

On the Rise

Watch for the rising talents and proven performers looking to break through in Madrid:

Mila, now partnered with Nadja Peter Steiner (SUI), continues her consistent form after a top five finish in Shanghai.
Great Britain V, who brought Jérôme Guéry (BEL) to the podium in Mexico City.
Napoli vh Nederassenthof, Andreas Schou’s (DEN) big striging partner who thrilled fans with a bold performance in Shanghai.
O’Bailey vh Brouwershof N.O.P., Iliana, Casual DV Z, Dexter Fontenis Z, Le Coultre de Muze, and Coolio 42 – each with the power, scope, and speed to shake up the leaderboard.

Where the Future Meets the Fierce

Gilles Thomas (BEL) returns with Ermitage Kalone, the young talent who made his 1.60m debut at LGCT Madrid in 2024 and has never looked back. One year on, Madrid may be where another chapter in their rise is written.

Source: Press Release from Longines Global Champions Tour