AUSTRALIA'S leading jumping rider Edwina Alexander won the $500,000 1.60m International Five Star Grand Prix de Ville de Cannes in France at the weekend.

And Chris Chugg continued his impressive performances in Europe with a second in the $250,000 Grand Prix at the De Steeg International Four Star show in Holland, after jumping a perfect double-clear round.

And in the same event, Victorian Beijing Olympian Matt Williams was sixth.

Alexander, from Glenhaven and ranked six in the world, beat French champion Kevin Staut, Ireland's Jessica Kurten, plus German's Marcus Ehning and Marco Kutcher in a thrilling jump off.

Alexander, last to go in the jump-off at the French grand prix, had to go clear to win as the other four had faulted.

Riding her pint-sized chestnut gelding Cevo Itot du Chateau never looked like touching a pole, which was just as well because her risky decision to go for a slow clear would have been costly if he had.

Both Staut and Kurten had both tried to steal victory by making the most of the long gallop to the last fence but both paid for their audacity when the rail fell. Fourth and fifth placed Kutscher and Ehning are still leading the Global Champions Tour standings with fifth leg of the GCT in Monaco on June 26.

Saturday's Grand Prix de Ville de Cannes was thrilling.

Of the 18 horses that got through to the second round, just five were clear for the final jump off against the clock.

So Alexander, riding the smallest horse in the field, knew she only had to jump clear to win.

You could have heard a pin drop in the stadium, the 15,000 spectators well aware that one mistake would hand the win to the French but Itot du Chateau never looked in any danger of doing so.

The crowd, to their credit cheered and clapped for the Australian's French-bred horse as it cleared the final fence.

"I was very sure Itot would be clear as he had been jumping so well," said Alexander.

Chugg's performance comes as he makes a bid for selection in the Australian jumping team to compete at the 2010 World Equestrian Games later in the year.

The grand prix was won by Dutch rider Marc Houtzager who jumped clear against the clock in 37.74 seconds.

Chugg who was first out against the clock and jumped clear riding Vivant in 37.75 seconds just .01 slower.

Williams is also looking for selection in the jumping team for the Kentucky World Championships, to be held in October.