All Photos courtesy of Global Champions Arabians Tour Americas

The Global Champions Arabians Tour has been the pinnacle of the Arabian horse’s sport. This year, the globally prestigious event came to Scottsdale for the first time. In 2025, there are 14 global events for this tour in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. 

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Global Champions Arabians Tour Americas makes a splash in Scottsdale

The glorious event featured space for VIP and general admission guests. All facets of the event from the vendors and security to catering and event organizers was top notch. VIP guests were seated immediately next to the corral where they could observe the intense concentration and connection between horse and trainer. 

As guests dined and snapped photos, Arabian horses and their trainers posed, held those poses, repositioned and showed off the majesty and beauty of the finest horses in their breed. 

An unforgettable stop for a global event

Global Champions Arabians Tour recognizes and awards the Best Horses in categories of Yearling Females and Males, Junior Females and Males, and Senior Females and Males. On the human side of the equation, Best Handlers were also recognized in all those same horse categories. In total, and across all continental competitions, nearly $25 million in prize money is up for grabs in 2025. 

The competition in Scottsdale was intense, with horses and handlers vying for a share of the show’s $270,000 prize money, and valuable points towards the overall ranking, which will see the Best Female, Best Male, Best Handler and Horse of the Tour crowned in the Las Vegas final this September. 

The Gold, Silver and Bronze champions from Scottsdale — 18 in total — also secured their place at the World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme, which takes place in Doha, Qatar from December 3–6, 2025.

“We’ve been impressed by the caliber of horses showcased at this first stage of the Americas series, and the feedback from participants and spectators has been incredibly encouraging,” commented Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Thani, deputy CEO of Global Champions Arabians Tour. “We extend our sincere gratitude to the Americas team for their dedication and hard work, which have made this inaugural stop on the Americas circuit a resounding success.”

The winners

The first gold title of the Americas series went to the Yearling Champion, Sedona AS, who took the top spot in Scottsdale for owner Arabian Soul Partners LTD. This refined bay filly sired by Dominic M won the qualifying class on 92.00 points. Silver went to Indira BF for Desert Sky Arabians LLC, who placed third in Tuesday’s qualifier with a score of 91.10. MD Zarah, owned and bred by Manuel Durini finished in the bronze medal position, following a win in her section of the qualifying classes on Tuesday.

Calais SVB lifted gold in the Yearling Colt Championships for Silverbox Southwest LLC, convincing all but one judge following a class win of 91.80 points. Silver went to the winner of the section A qualifier, Om El Elyrus, who scored 92.00 in his class for owner Om El Arab LLC. Aria Benito took the bronze for Aria Prestige Holdings LLC following a third place in Tuesday’s qualifier.

Top honors in the Junior Fillies Championship went to Bella Z, another of prolific sire Dominic M’s offspring, who scored 93.40 in her class for owners PCF Arabians LLC, Cindy McGown, Sam Peacemaker and Duke & Renae Mendel. With the highest score of the show and the highest championship points, she moves to the top of the female rankings. Marlayna PCF claimed silver for Orrion Farms LLC, while Bionca LMA, winner of the section a qualifier on 93.20 took bronze for Harry and Lisa Markley.

As for the Junior Colts, Stella Bella Arabians LLC claimed gold with homebred Rhaphael SBA, a three-year-old colt by Qatar-based stallion Rhan Al Shahania. Nader Al Bidayer, also sired by Rhan Al Shahania and bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi took silver for Cindy McGown and Danubius Arabians SRL. Bronze went to Wall Street B for owners Midwest Station 1 Inc.

The ethereal Exxaltress clinched gold in the Senior Mare Championships for Orrion Farms LLC. Sired by Excalibur EA, this 9-year-old scored 92.60 points to take second place in the previous day’s qualifier. Om El Belasina secured silver for Om El Arab LLC, and Katie McGregor walked away with a well-earned bronze title with the homebred Vixxen K.

In the final showdown of GCAT Scottsdale, Tasheem PMA was crowned gold stallion champion with eight votes for gold and moves to the top of the Overall Male rankings. Owned by Theresa Lungwitz, this four-year-old stallion by Taj Raheem scored 93.20 in his class, exuding Arabian type. Royal Atticus took the silver title for Royal Arabians LLC, with Om El Benicio following in bronze for Diane Brown.

With Andy Selman topping the handler rankings on 60 points after this first stage, the Americas Tour now heads to Miami Beach, Florida, for the second stop in this five-part series from April 17-19.

Meanwhile, the Europe & Middle East Series moves on to Muscat, Oman, from March 6-8 for the third stop, which takes place in the leafy parklands of Al Bustan Palace, set between the Hajar Mountains and the Arabian Sea.

An exciting and decadent event

There were 100s of attendees from across the globe that came to Scottsdale to compete in and attend the Global Champions Arabians Tour. An elevated hospitality experience was part of the beautiful event, which included art, fine jewelry and catering by M Culinary, While VIPs dined on huge lobster tails, steaks, chicken piccata and all the decadent accompaniments.  

As the majestic Arabians retired to their quarters for the night, a variety of dancers in the vastly different styles reflecting Southwestern culture closed out the event. Native American, Folklorico and line dancers took turns performing separately in the corral before appearing and dancing together as one big group. It served to close out what will undoubtedly become a benchmark event in Scottsdale going forward. 

For additional information, visit gcarabianstour.com.