Final of world’s richest equestrian event
From November 24 to 26,
Abu Dhabi will host the Final of the Global Champions Tour (GCT) – the world’s richest equestrian event, carrying a prize purse of US $9.6 million (€7 million) – following earlier stages in Doha, Valencia, Hamburg, Cannes, Monaco, Estoril, Chantily, Valenswaard and Rio de Janeiro.
With 90 horses and 48 riders in the 5 star class, the GCT Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be held at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort, featuring extensive indoor and outdoor sand field training areas, fully floodlit polo field and world class stables.
Forty of the world’s top Olympic riders, including future UAE Olympic hopeful HH Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, make up the competitor field which reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of equestrianism including members of ruling and royal families in the Arabian Gulf as well as European Royalty. The line-up includes Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco – fourth in line to the Monaco throne and Honorary President of Jumping International de Monte-Carlo and Sheikh Ali Al Thani of Qatar.
The GCT Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has total prize money of US $550,252 (€400,000) with US $178,800 (€130,000) going to the first placed in the leg’s 5 star class.
