What Lies Between Monaco N.O.P. and a Five-Star Victory?

The runner-up position seems to be haunting Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. For years, this pair has been producing solid results on world class scenes and have been an essential part of the successes of the Dutch team in recent months. The 14-year-old gelding currently ranks among the top 5 highest-rated horses in the world with an Elo of 779. While the win has come so close on numerous occasions, they have never managed to put their claim on one. The question starts to arise: what does winning mean? With 10 runner-up placings at 5* 160, how differently would we view Monaco N.O.P if those had been 10 wins?
 

Five seconds separated from eight 5* Grand Prix victories

World Cup Amsterdam 2020

Elo: 648 | Margin: 0.98 seconds
Winner:  Marc Houtzager & Sterrehof’s Dante N.O.P. (725)
Their ‘curse’, as one might refer to it, started in January of 2020 on home soil in the World Cup of Amsterdam when Monaco N.O.P. produced the first big result of his career by finishing second. Although beaten by their teammate Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Dante N.O.P., Monaco N.O.P. did manage beat other powerhouses such as Gancia de Muze, Beauville Z N.O.P. and Jasmien vd Bisschop in the jump-off. 

Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva 2021

Elo: 740 | Margin: 0.23 seconds
Winner: Martin Fuchs & Leone Jei (731)
Then follows an almost two-year dry spell, partially due to the Coronavirus pandemic, before we would see Monaco N.O.P. equal that performance. In the 2021 edition of the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, the Dutch duo finished second to hometown hero Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei, yet still beating strong opponents in the jump-off like Elektric Blue P, Gazelle and Baloutinue. 

World Cup of London, ExCeL 2021

Elo 749 | Margin: 0.86 seconds
Winner: Harry Charles & Stardust (622)
The Geneva performance set something in motion, as the following weekend Smolders and Monaco would finish second once more. This time it was Harry Charles and Stardust who would outperform them in the World Cup of London ExCel. 

Rolex Grand Prix of ‘s Hertogenbosch 2022

Elo: 754 | Margin: 0.13 seconds
Winner: Daniel Deusser & Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (781)
Three months later, in March 2022, Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. continued the trend by finishing second on home soil, this time behind Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z in the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix of ‘s Hertogenbosch. This is also the closest they have come to that desired victory, losing out by just 0.13 seconds in the jump-off.

LGCT Grand Prix Saint Tropez 2022

Elo: 754 | Margin: 0.38 seconds
Winner: Malin Baryard-Johnsson & H&M Indiana (756)
Monaco N.O.P. has never been fazed by the transition from indoor to outdoor, proven by a great weekend spent in Saint Tropez on the LGCT circuit, not long after their performance at the Dutch Masters. However, yet again they found themselves out-performed, this time by Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana. 

LGCT Grand Prix Riyadh 2022

Elo: 756 | Margin: 0.90 seconds
Winner: Michael Pender & HHS Calais (711)
Harrie and Monaco N.O.P. finished their fruitful, yet frustrating year in Riyadh for the final of the Longines Global Champions Tour. Holding onto the lead in the LGCT Grand Prix until the very last combination entered the ring, the pair could almost taste the victory they had so desperately been craving since the start of the year. Unfortunately, for the fifth time that year it was not to be for Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. as they saw Irishman Michael Pender and HHS Calais crush their dream and pip them from the win.

Grand Prix of Paris, Saut Hermès 2023

Elo: 761 | Margin: 0.68 seconds
Winner: Victor Bettendorf & Mr. Tac (687)
The 2023 season seems to be evolving in a similar fashion as the previous couple of years for Monaco N.O.P. Their last stop before heading to Omaha for the 2023 FEI World Cup Finals was at the Saut Hermès in Paris. In the CSI5* Grand Prix of Paris, they could not beat Victor Bettendorf & Mr Tac’s jump-off time and therefore added another runner-up spot to their record, continuing the trend they set in 2022.

LGCT Grand Prix of Monte Carlo

Elo: 776 | Margin: 1.27 seconds
Winner: Julien Epaillard & Donatello d’Auge (746)
Despite currently sporting a career-high Elo of 779, the pair had to settle for second place once again. The Longines Global Championships Tour settled in Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco N.O.P.’s namesake. In the LGCT Grand Prix worth €1.5 million, Harrie and his 14-year-old gelding made it into a jump-off of just five combinations. The pair sped into the lead with just one duo left to compete. Unfortunately, French speed professor Julien Epaillard and Donatello d’Auge crushed Monaco N.O.P.’s jump-off time by 1.27 seconds and redirected Harrie and Monaco to their familiar second place.

Two rails removed from two Gold medals

World Cup Finals Leipzig 2022

Elo: 749 | Margin: 4 penalties
Winner: Martin Fuchs & Chaplin (755)
Back in April of 2022, the pair put in a terrific effort at the World Cup Finals in Leipzig. An unfortunate four faults in the final round of jumping sent them down to a silver medal position while Martin Fuchs won the gold on Chaplin. 

World Cup Finals Omaha 2023

Elo: 765 | Margin: 3 penalties
Winner: Henrik von Eckermann & King Edward (798)
For the second year in a row, Harrie and Monaco N.O.P. knocked just one rail too many out of the cups to be crowned World Cup Champion. The pair were pipped by Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, the favourites going into the competition, and were awarded with a silver medal. Nevertheless, a superb achievement.

What does winning mean?

This fascinating collection of results produced by Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. provokes the question of what it means to win. Without a single five-star 160 win, Monaco N.O.P. has managed to build the current fourth-highest rated Elo in the world, ahead of multiple 5* Grand Prix winners like H&M Indiana, Beauville Z N.O.P. and Stargold. Monaco N.O.P.’s current Elo is built by consistently producing strong performances at the highest level, but do we look at Monaco differently because he is not yet a 5* Grand Prix winner?

In these eight Grand Prix classes, Monaco N.O.P. has produced a round one clear, as well as staying clear in the jump-off. In total, just 5.34 seconds have kept Monaco N.O.P. from having a competition record with 8 five-star Grand Prix victories. A fraction away from being considered a living legend of the sport. To put things into perspective, if Monaco N.O.P. had won those eight events, his Elo would only be marginally higher than it is right now. The main difference would be how he is perceived by the public. 

Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. have been able to seize the spotlight with eye-catching performances in the past years but have always seen the victory pass right through their fingertips. While it cannot be denied that ten runner-up placings on the world stage is an incredible achievement, considering their current form it would come as no surprise that their time to take up the centre stage is fast-approaching. Yet, we must take time to appreciate the incredible horse that Monaco N.O.P. already is.