Abdel Saïd and Quaker Brimbelles Z. Photo © Megan Giese Media/TCHS.
Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows, edited by World of Showjumping
Abdel Saïd (BEL) returned to familiar territory on Friday to win the $117,000 CSI5*-W 1.55m Grand Prix Qualifier, the same class he also captured during his debut at Traverse City Horse Shows in 2024. This year, he piloted Quaker Brimbelles Z (Quicksilver St Simeon x Hickstead) for the win during the penultimate week of the Traverse City Tournament of Champions, featuring the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ – Traverse City.
Saïd, currently ranked no.13 in the world was the only contender to cross the jump-off timers sub-40 seconds. Seven horses advanced to the tie-breaking short course, designed by Guilherme Jorge (BRA).
“He’s come up strong and the partnership is growing. Today’s jump-off was quite fast and he answered all my questions," Saïd said about Quaker Brimbelles Z. Photo © Megan Giese Media/TCHS.
Saïd pipped Katie Dinan (USA) to ultimately take the win. His 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding stopped the timers at 39.77 seconds to Dinan’s 41.67 on Out of the Blue SCF (Verdi TN x San Patrignano Cassini), owned by Grant Road Partners. Daniel Bluman (ISR) rounded out the podium in third with Abigail Wexner’s Hummer Z (Harley x Hemmingway) in a time of 42.23 seconds.
With his sights set firmly on the 2026 FEI World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, TX, Saïd is starting his qualifying season off in the North American League. “I love being in Traverse City and America in general,” he said. “Traverse City is special for me; the setting, the people, good course designs, and fantastic prize money. For me, it’s a super horse show, so I’m delighted to be here and win this class two years in a row.”
Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF. Photo © Megan Giese Media/TCHS.
Saïd’s partnership with Quaker Brimbelles Z is still a developing one after the gelding joined his string at the end of 2024. “He’s come up strong and the partnership is growing. Today’s jump-off was quite fast and he answered all my questions.”
The partnership was one made by happenstance, according to Saïd. “I always loved him as a young horse, but he was never for sale,” admitted Saïd of the horse that was previously the mount of French rider Jean Luc Mourier. “It’s so hard to buy top horses – usually my job is producing and selling them. One evening, I was sitting at home and the owner called me. He said, ‘Would you like to buy him?’ But, I had to give him an answer that night. It was a stressful, crazy deal but it worked and I couldn’t be happier with the horse.”
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