Thermal, Calif. – When the World No. 1 rider is coming behind you in the jump-off, you have little choice but to take some chances if you want to win. So, that is exactly what Mathijs Van Asten did on Saturday night, January 24, and it paid off in spades as he and Hotspot rode away with the victory in the $340,000 BRAINJUICE Active CSI5* Grand Prix at Desert International Horse Park.
Mathijs Van Asten and Hotspot. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Following the first-round track, designed by Colm Quinn and Alan Wade, Van Asten and Hotspot were one of eight entries to qualify to jump off for the win in the Desert Circuit 3 featured class.
When Van Asten returned to the Grand Prix Stadium as the penultimate rider to jump, the time to beat had been set at 38.71 seconds by the USA’s Callie Schott and Uricas v/d Kattenvennen. Van Asten knew that was fast, but he also knew that with Kent Farrington coming behind him, there was a good chance he would need to be much faster.
Mathijs Van Asten, Callie Schott and Conor Swail topped the podium. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“I know my horse’s nature is very fast, but I have to keep it smooth,” said Van Asten, who rides for the Netherlands. “I know I have to take some risks because when Kent Farrington is behind you, then you know that it’s very hard because he’s very hard to beat. So, I tried to ride my own route and took some risks from the double to the vertical in the corner. I did one stride less than the rest, and I got a really forward distance to the last one. I think there I made my time.”
Van Asten and Hotspot’s time of 36.64 seconds proved to be more than enough to take over the top of the leaderboard and to really put the pressure on Farrington and his mount Toulayna. As a single rail fell for Farrington, Van Asten’s win was secured, and Schott and Uricas v/d Kattenvannen, owned by Southern Arches LLC, held on to second place. Rounding out the top three on a time of 39.04 seconds were Ireland’s Conor Swail and Casturano, owned by Connall Murray.
Mathijs Van Asten and Hotspot. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
For Van Asten, the win is a testament to his longtime partnership with Hotspot, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood that Van Asten has had in his stable for much of the stallion’s life.
“He’s a very special horse. It’s a horse, which actually I broke in myself,” said Van Asten. “We did the first shows with it as a 4-year-old, so that’s quite special. He’s really a family friend, and I’m very happy to have him. He’s really an athlete, and we’re very happy to work with him. Every round he gives a lot.”
Van Asten made the decision to start competing Hotspot and his string of horses at Desert International Horse Park three years ago, and he has not looked back.
Second place went to Callie Schott and Uricas v/d Kattenvannen. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“I train Vani Khosla. She’s from San Francisco, California. So, we decided three years ago to spend the winter here,” explained Van Asten. “We enjoy it. It’s good for the horses. We have a good string of horses that we can build up a nice season, so we’re happy to be here!”
For full results of the $340,000 BRAINJUICE Active CSI5* Grand Prix, click here. While the class marked the conclusion of CSI5* competition at Desert Circuit 3, presented by BRAINJUICE, both CSI2* and CSI5* competition resume next week at Desert Circuit 4, featuring the $340,000 CSI5* Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ – Thermal.
With 10 weeks of top-caliber competition, Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park continues through March 15, 2026. To learn more, visit deserthorsepark.com.