The Global Champions Arabians Tour’s second season kicked off in style at the picturesque Al Zorah waterfront arena, captivating the crowds with breathtakingly beautiful Arabian horses competing for top honours at the first stage of 2025 over a thrilling four days.
The incredible setting at Al Zorah, Ajman
With a packed grandstand, Royal visitors from across the GCC and over 150 horses competing for an early lead in this eight-part Europe and the Middle East series, the show concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony. Here, Gold Senior Male Champion D Seraj (FA el Rasheem x Ladi Veronika), owned and bred by the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, was crowned following a jaw-dropping display that featured magical equestrian theatrics, traditional Emirati dancers, and an incredible drone show and firework display.
The competition in Ajman was intense, with multiple reigning and former World Champions taking to the arena in a bid to earn their first points of the season, that boasts an overall prize fund of over €24,000,000 across both the Europe and Middle East, and the Americas, series, as well as the World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme.
SQ Ghandoura, Gold Yearling Filly Champion
“The quality of horses at this first stage in Ajman has been very impressive,” remarked Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Thani, Deputy CEO of Global Champions Arabians Tour. “It’s very early to make any predictions on the Horse of the Tour as we still have seven more stages to go, but it would not be surprising to see one of the Champions from the Ajman stage at the top of the leaderboard at the final stage in Prague this September.”
SQ Ghandoura (ex Miss Enzo RLC), an exquisite chestnut yearling filly sired by SQ Sager (ES Harir x CS Amay) took the first Gold of 2025 for Switzerland’s Hanaya Stud, owned by Nayla Hayek. With Frank Spönle at the end of the lead, she takes 20 points and a €50,000 prize. D Neeran (Exxalt x D Shihanah) took the Silver title for Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, while AJ Sindala (Ghaith al Zobair x AJ Sajwa) secured Bronze for Ajman Stud.
Sharar Almenhal, Gold Yearling Colt Champion
Yearling colt Sharar Almenhal (M Munther x Shams Almanhal) clinched Gold for Emirati breeder Fahed Zaabi, having won his class on the first day with 91.79 points, expertly handled by Wynand Bouwer. Silver went to Federico Jose Morales’ FAM Vortex (D Shahhar x D Hamsah), and D Mazyoon (D Fannan x D al Shahba) followed with a Bronze title for Dubai Arabian Horse Stud.
Shahalel al Shaqab, Gold Junior Female Champion
In the Junior Female Championship, Al Shaqab Stud’s Shahalel al Shaqab (Na-mous al Shahania x Siwar al Shaqab) stole the hearts of the judging panel to take gold for the Qatar-based farm. This former World Champion filly beat Dubai Arabian Horse Stud’s D Rowa (FA el Rasheem x D Rawyanah) to the Silver medal. Albidayer Stud’s Aseelah Albidayer (AJ Marzan x Allezandra Albidayer) followed in Bronze.
Azzaam al Amal, Gold Junior Male Champion
As for the Junior Males, Sharjah’s Albidayer Stud claimed Gold with the two-year-old Azzaam al Amal (El Galal Baahir x Arabesca Scarlet Moon), a refined grey colt bred in South Africa. D Hayel (D Shakhat x D Jawaher) took Silver for Qatar’s Al Thamer Stud, and D Shakar (D Shakhat x D Shamkhah), who finished third in the overall rankings during the first season of GCAT, followed in the Bronze medal position.
D Beisan, Gold Senior Female Champion
D Beisan (ex RAH Rosalia) started the new season on a high note, taking Gold in the Senior Female Championships for owners Al Shaqab Stud of Qatar, with new handler Arnauld Mertens. Sired by D Seraj, D Beisan tied for the highest-scoring horse of the Ajman stage with a class win on 93.14. Silver went to Ajman Stud’s Al Aryam Banafsaj (Dominic M x Al Aryam Basma), and Bronze to Al Zobair Stud’s El Esmera (Sahm el Arab x Esmeraldia).
D Seraj, Gold Senior Male Champion
In the Senior Male Championship, D Seraj, sire of the Gold Champion Mare, wowed the judges with his impressive type to take the Gold. Qatar’s Almirqab Farm’s Amaar (RFI Farid x Adiya) took Silver with Giacomo Capacci. Bronze went to Hleetan Qatar Stud’s Berlin MP (SMA Magic One x Baraka MP), bred in the USA by Mindy Peters.
After the first stage, last year’s Handler of the Year Paolo Capecci sits at the top of the leaderboard with 54 points, with Arnauld Mertens closely behind with 52 points. Raphael Curti is in 3rd spot with 50 points.
The Tour now moves to Doha for the second stage of the Europe and Middle East series, which will take place from 5-8 February, following the Peninsula Show on the beautiful beach shore of Katara. Shortly after, the Americas series will see its first stage in Scottsdale, USA running on 18 and 20 February.
Follow @arabianstour on Instagram or visit www.gcarabianstour.com to stay updated with the latest news, or download the Global Champions Arabians Tour app, available on Apple and Android for real-time results and rankings.
About the Global Champions Arabians Tour
Inaugurated in 2024, the Global Champions Arabians Tour is an exclusive Arabian Horse Championship series, taking place in state-of-the-art venues in iconic locations and offering the highest prize money in the sport’s history. Its mission is to promote the uniqueness of purebred Arabian horses through an international platform, fostering a legacy of excellence, transparency, fairness and integrity.
