Press release from Global Champions League, edited by World of Showjumping

The Global Champions League (GCL) delivered yet another evening of drama and sporting brilliance as the circuit returned to Morocco’s capital Rabat for stage 15 of the 2025-season, continuing the legacy of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture.

When the dust finally settled, it was the St Tropez Pirates who emerged victorious in the CSI5* GCL of Rabat, holding their nerve through two gruelling rounds to claim the win in style. Thibault Philippaerts (BEL) and Philippe Rozier (FRA) combined youth and experience to perfection, mastering the Uliano Vezzani-designed course with precision and flair. Rozier and Le Coultre de Muze (Presley Boy x Vigo d’Arsouilles) produced a clear, while Philippaerts, 23, delivered a flawless anchor round with Lyandro MDB (Grand Slam x Ahorn) to seal the deal. 

With a grin from ear to ear, Thibault commented: "I have always looked up to these legendary riders so to compete with them on a team alongside Philippe and win against them is just amazing. I trusted the quality of my horse today, he jumped really amazing - I am just very lucky to have a horse like him in my team, plus my team at home with my parents and my family supporting me all the way… and right now I am just enjoying every moment."

"This is my first win in the GCL and I love the circuit,” Philippe Rozier told GCTV. “It is big sport with many good riders and good horses every week. Like the last four weeks have been; New York, Vienna, Rome and now here in Rabat, it is just unbelievable. It is an unbelievable experience for me in my last year. This is my last outdoor five-star event before I retire from five-star shows at the end of the season – so this victory is very important to me."

Finishing second, the Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana showed impressive pace and teamwork, with Peder Fredricson (SWE) on Alcapone des Carmille (Diamant de Semilly x Heartbreaker) and SV Vroom de La Pomme Z (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Untouchable) paired with Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) on Nikolaj de Music (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) producing a fast eight-fault total that kept them just off the top step.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team took the final spot on the podium, driven by another flawless effort from Simon Delestre (FRA) on Golden Boy DK (Diamant de Semilly x Cash) and a determined round from Hasan Senturk (TUR) aboard Avant Toi (Flyinge Quite Easy x Narcos II).

As the penultimate stage of the 2025-season, the stakes in Rabat could not have been higher. The fast-track qualification to the GC Prague Playoffs semi-finals hung in the balance, and the top four teams in the standings remain within touching distance of one another.

Valkenswaard United continue to lead the race on 296 points, narrowly ahead of the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames on 290. The Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team hold third with 256, while the Shanghai Swans cling to fourth on 253 – just 12 points ahead of a surging Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym on 241. With so little separating them, everything will come down to the GCL Finals in Riyadh (KSA).