The Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT) made a stunning UK debut at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 14-17 August, marking a historic moment in the Tour’s journey across Europe and the Middle East. Over four unforgettable days, the very best purebred Arabian horses and world-renowned handlers gathered in the heart of London, bringing the elegance, power, and heritage of the Arabian horse to one of the city’s most iconic settings.
The London stage offered a total prize purse of €1,410,000, with €1,050,000 allocated to the championship classes and €360,000 to the qualifying classes. This event played a decisive role in shaping the leaderboard ahead of the season’s grand finale in Prague, as part of the broader European and Middle East Series featuring an overall prize pool exceeding €21,835,000 for the 2025 season.
Gold Champions, London 2025
Senior Male: Alexxanderr (Excalibur EA x AR Mostly Irresistible), bred by Francis Butler and Brandi Carson, USA, and owned by Almirqab Farm, Qatar
Senior Female: Al Aryam Banafsaj (Dominic M x Al Aryam Basma), bred by Al Aryam Arabians and owned by Ajman Stud, UAE
Junior Male: D Borkan (FA el Rasheem x D Ajayeb), bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE
Junior Female: Shahbrys HVP (Royal Asad x Rebecca HVP), bred by Agropecuaria Vila Dos Pinheiros, Brazil, and owned by Turki Alothman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Yearling Colt: Haboob Ajmal (RFI Unique x D Dhayrah), bred by Ajmal Stud and owned by Turki Alothman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Yearling Filly: Arabella al Shahania (LR Solo Mio x Assilah al Shahaniah), bred and owned by HE Sheikha Yasmeen MK al Thani, Al Shahania Stud (Qatar)
A celebration beyond competition
The London stage combined championship sport with an immersive cultural experience. Visitors explored a vibrant fan village, luxury boutiques, and hospitality spaces, all set against the dramatic backdrop of Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The closing ceremony on Sunday evening was a spectacular highlight. Champions were honoured in front of a captivated audience, followed by live music and an electrifying performance from DJ Chloe, who transformed the historic venue into a stage of celebration.
Current standings after London
Top Female – Shahalel al Shaqab, 137 points
Top Male – Berlin MP, 121 points
Leading Handler – Glenn Schoukens, 359 points
“Bringing the Global Champions Arabians Tour to London marks a defining moment in our journey,” said Bader Al Darwish, CEO of GCAT. “The Royal Hospital Chelsea provided the perfect backdrop for celebrating the beauty and heritage of Arabian horses. London embraced the Tour with outstanding energy and enthusiasm, and an extraordinary full house on Sunday.”
GCAT extends heartfelt gratitude to all our global sponsors, including Qatar Airways, Doha Bank, Richard Mille, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Rixos Baghdad, United Development Company (UDC), and our official broadcast partner, Alkass TV. For the London stage, we were also pleased to welcome Bentley Qatar as the Official Luxury Automotive Partner.
The European and Middle East Series will now conclude with the much-anticipated Prague stage on 4-6 September, where the overall champions of the 2025 season will be crowned.
Follow @arabianstour on Instagram or visit gcarabianstour.com to stay updated with the latest news, or download the GCAT app, available on Apple and Android for real-time results and rankings.
About Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT)
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 worldwide, and offers 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.
