Press release from Longines Global Champions Tour, edited by World of Showjumping

Abdel Saïd (BEL) and the 12-year-old mare Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof (Zinedine x Lord Z) stole the spotlight in Saturday’s CSI5* 1.60m €500,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes presented by La Ville de Cannes.

In an electric jump-off of four, the Belgian pair stopped the clock in a lightning-fast 39.44 seconds to claim one of the most coveted titles of the season, ahead of Michael Pender (IRL) and HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky x Acorado), while Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) and Cellagon Cascais (Colestus x Carrico) completed the podium after a thrilling night of top sport on the Côte d'Azur.

Securing his eighth Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix podium, Abdel reflected on his win tonight. "She’s quite green at this level, and I’m very grateful to her,” he said about his winning ride. “When you have crowds like this, they really motivate us to go for it. She answered every single question tonight - she’s unbelievable. We had to take a chance, and she answered all the questions again and showed me she can do it."

Michael Pender was clearly thrilled by his win, claiming: “I am absolutely delighted! Cyprus is only 10 and this is the first time jumping an LGCT Grand Prix and one of this size so I couldn’t be more delighted with second palace. Normally I may not be happy with second… but he really stepped up to the game.”

“I think it could be a style class with the way I am able to ride this horse, he really jumped so perfectly,” third placed Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann – previous winner of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes – reflected. “Perhaps I could’ve pushed a little more in some spaces but what can I say? I think perhaps this is the next step to come!”

Simon Delestre (FRA) stays on top of the LGCT overall ranking with 118.67 points ahead of Katrin Eckermann (GER) on 104 points, while LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes winner Abdel Said propelled into third on 100 points. Cian O'Connor (IRL) sits fourth on 85 points, while Zoe Hank Conter (BEL) completes a fiercely competitive top five on 84 points. With just 34.67 points separating the leading five riders and ten stages still to come, the battle for the coveted LGCT crown is wide open heading into St Tropez next week.