Six Gold Champions Crowned at GCAT Aachen Finale
Mdmar – Aachen
The 2026 Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT) Europe and Middle East season reached a spectacular conclusion in Aachen, Germany, on 26–27 September, bringing together an elite international field of Purebred Arabian horses.
Six Gold Champions were crowned across the yearling, junior and senior championships following two days of highly competitive classes.
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PALMAH O captured Gold in the Yearling Fillies Championship, ahead of Silver medallist SHALWA AL ADWAN and Bronze medallist AFKHAM DALAL.
In the Yearling Colts Championship, DINAR AL SHAQAB claimed Gold, with RDS DONATELLO taking Silver and SHAWASH AJMAL securing Bronze.
The Junior Fillies Championship went to EXPECTATIONS AL WAJBA, who earned the Gold medal ahead of AL ARYAM HARBAH in Silver and D ROWA in Bronze.
One of the most significant victories of the finale came in the Junior Colts Championship, where AESAR ALWAJBA secured Gold. D MAZYOON collected Silver, while HABOOB AJMAL completed the podium with Bronze.
AESAR ALWAJBA had arrived in Aachen leading the Horse of the Tour standings with 90 points, one ahead of SHALWA AL ADWAN on 89. Under GCAT’s published scoring system, Gold earns 20 points and Silver 17, taking their calculated season totals to 110 and 106 points respectively after the Aachen results.
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In the Senior Mares Championship, D NAJLAH was crowned Gold Champion, with AL ARYAM ATAB taking Silver and AJ ASAI Bronze.
The finale concluded with the Senior Stallions Championship, where D SHAHHAR delivered an outstanding performance to take Gold. RD RAJAN secured Silver, while D SAMED claimed Bronze.
Aachen therefore brought a memorable conclusion to the 2026 GCAT Europe and Middle East series, showcasing some of the finest Arabian horses on the international stage.
Aesar Alwajba Named 2026 Horse of the Tour
Aesar Alwajba claims the $500,000 Horse of the Tour prize as GCAT concludes its 2026 Europe & Middle East season in Aachen.
The Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT) brought its 2026 Europe & Middle East season to a memorable conclusion at the GCAT Final Aachen – All Nations Cup, with Aesar Alwajba, owned by Al Wajba Stud, crowned the 2026 Horse of the Tour.
The prestigious season-long title is awarded to the horse accumulating the highest total points across the Tour, with Aesar securing the top position and the additional $500,000 Horse of the Tour prize.
Aesar arrived in Aachen just one point ahead of Shalwa Al Adwan, owned by Aljumail Stud, following a closely contested season-long battle. With Aachen providing the final opportunity to collect points, the title came down to the season finale, where Aesar ultimately secured GCAT’s biggest season honour.
Aesar was also recognised as Best Male Horse, while Shalwa Al Adwan concluded her outstanding season as Best Female Horse.
CHAMPION OF THE STAGE
Senior Stallions · Gold
D Shahhar
Owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud
GOLD
RESULTS
Senior Stallions
- D Shahhar owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud
- RD Rajan owned by Hanaya Arabian Stud
- D Samed owned by SK Arabians
Senior Mares
- D Najlah owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud
- Al Aryam Atab owned by H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
- AJ Asai owned by Akmal Stud
Junior Colts
- Aesar Alwajba owned by Al Wajba Stud
- D Mazyoon owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud
- Haboob Ajmal owned by Turki Alothman
Junior Fillies
- Expectations Alwajba owned by Al Wajba Stud
- Al Aryam Harbah owned by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan
- D Rowa owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud
Yearling Colts
- Dinar Al Shaqab owned by Al Shaqab
- RDS Donatello owned by Ajman Stud
- Shawash Ajmal owned by Turki Alothman
Yearling Fillies
- Palmah O owned by Al Shiraa Arabians
- Shalwa Al Adwan owned by Aljumail Stud
- Afkham Dalal owned by Hanaya Arabian Stud
Celebrating the 2026 Season
Aachen also provided the stage to honour the outstanding achievements and contributions of the season.
–Horse of the Tour
Aesar Alwajba owned by Al Wajba Stud
–Handler of the Tour
Paolo Capecci
–Best Breeding Farm
Dubai Arabian Horse Stud
–Best Female Horse
Shalwa Al Adwan owned by Aljumail Stud
–Best Male Horse
Aesar Alwajba owned by Al Wajba Stud
–Action of the Year
Dhabia Al Busaidi, GCAT Muscat
–Lifetime Achievement Award
The finale marked another milestone for Paolo Capecci, who secured Handler of the Tour for the third consecutive year, completing three titles in the three seasons since GCAT began.
Beyond the arena, the GCAT Industry Forum brought together owners, breeders, trainers and industry professionals for an open exchange on the future development of the Arabian horse industry.
As the 2026 Europe & Middle East season concludes in Aachen, attention now turns to the World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme in Paris, taking place at the Grand Palais from 25–27 November. The prestigious season-ending showcase will bring the Arabian horse to one of the world’s most iconic venues, providing a spectacular stage to celebrate the very best of the breed and bringing the 2026 international season to its ultimate conclusion.
“Mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
