Vejer de La Frontera, Spain – February 23, 2026 – Week three of the XXXII Andalucía Sunshine Tour comes to an end with a highlight victory for France’s Mathieu Billot (FRA), who secured first place in the €105,500 Andalucía Invitational Grand Prix CSI 4*, riding the promising 9-year-old Heartlove de Pleville against a strong international field of 50 starters.
The Grand Prix course was designed by renowned French course designer Grégory Bodo (FRA), who also created the tracks for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The technical and selective track proved challenging for the field, with only three combinations producing clear rounds to qualify for the jump-off.
Among those returning for the decisive round, Billot delivered when it mattered most. Riding with precision and efficiency, he produced the winning jump-off performance to take the top honours. Spain’s Pilar Lucrecia Cordon (ESP) and Pica Pica Z finished second, while Julio Arias Cueva (ESP) with Filou du Manoir completed the podium in third place.
The victory marked an important milestone for both rider and horse. Heartlove de Pleville, at just nine years old, showed maturity, scope, and composure well beyond his age, confirming his potential for future top-level sport. Billot has been competing at the venue over recent weeks and has enjoyed consistent success, including a second-place finish in last week’s Grand Prix CSI 4* before returning to claim this week’s win.
“I would like to thank the organizers and the sponsors for this fantastic show. It was my first time here and I was very happy to come. Last week I finished second in the 4* Grand Prix, and this time I managed to take the win with my 9-year-old Heartlove de Pleville, which makes me very proud,” said Billot.
Final Results – €105,500 Andalucía Invitational Grand Prix CSI 4*
1) Mathieu Billot (FRA) & Heartlove de Pleville – 0 / 4 – 43.46
2) Pilar Lucrecia Cordon (ESP) & Pica Pica Z – 0 / 4 – 43.92
3) Julio Arias Cueva (ESP) & Filou du Manoir – 0 / 4 – 41.36
Source: Press Release (edited) from the Andalucía Sunshine Tour
Photos: © Andalucía Sunshine Tour / Mackenzie Clark
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Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News France
