Valkenswaard (NED), August 16, 2006 – The completion of the CSI2* Horse Festival Valkenswaard was a good lead-in to the CSI5* that will take place from August 17-20 at the home show of the Global Champions Tour initiator, Jan Tops. The show will mark the fifth of the six legs that comprise the Global Champions Tour, sponsored by CN and CN WorldWide. It is the final opportunity for riders to increase their GCT ranking before the final of the first edition of the GCT is held on September 25 in Lanaken (BEL).

Among the competitors in the VDL Groep Grand Prix on August 20 will be the current leader of the GCT ranking, Ludo Philippaerts. While the Belgian is saving Parco, winner of two GCT events, for the World Equestrian Games at the end of this month in Aachen (GER), he will instead saddle up the 10-year-old stallion Chatman (Corofino x Lord Calando). That might open the door for riders like Edwina Alexander (AUS), who is currently ranked fourth in the GCT standings, and who is the defending champion of the Valkenswaard Grand Prix. She will be riding her top mare Isovlas Pialotta.

The Australian is one of the favourites in this class, offering 150,000 euros in prize money, but she is aware that the other competitors will not hand her the win, saying, "Thomas Frühmann will be there, and Michel Hecart will also be fighting for more ranking points. I see this Grand Prix mainly as a last important test for my horse before we go to the World Championships."

The bonus of 600,000 euros that will be divided among the best eight riders in the Global Champions Tour ranking adds another dimension to Edwina Alexander's competitive spirit. “Of course I will try to be among the best three in the overall ranking."