The city that never sleeps was wide awake on a golden New York afternoon, where the Longines Global Champions Tour made its much-anticipated return for the first time since 2022.

Liberty State Park, with the Hudson River glistening and the Manhattan skyline standing tall under a flawless September sun, provided the most dramatic of backdrops for Stage 12 of the championship. Grandstands overflowed, the edges of the arena brimmed with fans, and the atmosphere was electric – a blend of sport and showmanship that had even The Boss Bruce Springsteen nodding along in the VIP Hospitality alongside New York Empire team owner Georgina Bloomberg and Jennifer Gates Nassar cheering on her husband Nayel Nassar in the jump-off. It was a sell-out day, and the sport rose to meet the occasion, delivering an afternoon that could only be described as Born to Ride.

When the dust settled, it was Belgium’s Gilles Thomas who stood tallest, guiding his incredible nine-year-old mare Qualista DN to a spectacular victory – his second Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win of the season and the fourth podium finish of his 2025 campaign.

Alongside Thomas on the podium was 23-year-old Thibault Philippaerts, making his Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix debut with Pittman v/h Lilleveld. The young Belgian delivered a breakout performance to finish runner-up and, in doing so, earned a Golden Ticket to the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix at the GC Prague Playoffs, handed down from Thomas, who had already secured his place earlier this season. Switzerland’s Nadja Peter Steiner and Nice van’t Zorgvliet completed a world-class podium, their clear round and swift time sealing third to the roar of the New York crowd.

Taking his fourth LGCT Grand Prix podium for the year, a beaming Gilles Thomas spoke to Rosie Turner of GCTV, he said, “It’s been an amazing season, and wearing this armband motivates me even more to perform in every LGCT Grand Prix!”

As for the brand new event location? He added, “A venue like this is just incredible, it looks like a postcard - a very big ring made it a very nice show to be at.”

Following in the footprints of his father Ludo, the 2006 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion, and older brothers who are both LGCT Grand Prix winners, an ecstatic Thibault said, “I feel amazing, I was very close to a dream today but Gilles was there again but he deserves it as well.The Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix is a very big big class, I have been watching my brothers compete there for the last few years and it is a very nice show and very big so I need to start practicing now.”

A moment etched into the memory bank of many, each riders first LGCT Grand Prix moment is a career highlight. Nadja struggled to find the words after her debut podium finished today, she explained, “I really have no words to be honest. Today is just incredible, Nice gave me everything today fighting for me. I am just so happy about this result. It’s my first time in New York and this venue is amazing then to make a podium is just incredible.”

With this result, Thomas extended his championship lead to 261 points, pulling further clear of Germany’s Christian Kukuk, who sits second on 187, and Denmark’s Andreas Schou, holding third on 173. For the American fans, Natalie Dean brought the crowd to its feet with Crescendo MB Z. Her place in the top six was enough to rocket her into sixth in the standings on 157.2 points, a career-defining leap forward.

The 1.60m first round of the €308,600 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix demanded the best from all who entered. Young talent shone as Thibault Philippaerts impressed with a flawless clear in his very first LGCT Grand Prix start, while home hero Natalie Dean’s round drew thunderous applause from her supporters. For some, heartbreak came by the slimmest margins – Denis Lynch with Brooklyn Heights and Antoine Ermann on Jiamo VDS each suffering a single time fault that kept them from the jump-off, leaving their hopes behind on the banks of the Hudson. In the end, eleven world-class combinations booked their place in the decisive round.

The jump-off unfolded with all the tension New York deserved. Pathfinder Ines Joly saw an early rail on board Crack d'Aiguilly Z, before Kim Emmen’s bid unraveled in dramatic fashion with a retirement on course while riding Hellix du Seigneur. Then came Nadja Peter Steiner, who flew into the lead with a sharp 32.69-second clear, igniting cheers from the grandstands with Nice van't Zorgvliet as she punched the air while smiling from ear to ear.

Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Little Magic d’Asschaut followed with another lightning effort, 33.28 seconds enough for second at the time, as his wife Jennifer Gates Nassar looked on proudly from the kiss and cry, urging every stride home. But the day’s story was just beginning.

Enter Thibault Philippaerts, the youngest brother on tour of the famous Belgian dynasty. Backed by brothers Olivier and Nicola on the sidelines, he attacked the course from the start, shaving time at every turn, and soared into the lead by nearly a full second – an astonishing feat for a debutant on a 10-year-old horse. The crowd sensed history in the making, but there was more yet to come.

Jur Vrieling and Kannan JR, masters of consistency, added a clear but just off the pace. Then came the man in the leader’s armband. Gilles Thomas, already riding a wave of brilliance this season, showed nerves of steel with Qualista DN. Precision, speed, and daring saw them stop the clock at 31.03 seconds, almost seven tenths faster than Philippaerts, sealing the victory with a display that underlined his dominance of the 2025 championship race. Last to go, Gregory Wathelet and Ace of Hearts, could not quite keep the rails in place, leaving the day as a Belgian triumph with Thomas on top.

As the sun dipped behind the skyscrapers, the podium ceremony shimmered with champagne, silverware, and the smiles of three riders who had each made their mark in front of a roaring New York crowd. For Thomas, it was another step closer to the title. For Philippaerts, it was the day his Longines Global Champions Tour career was truly born. For Steiner, it was proof of grit and speed on the sport’s brightest stage taking her first ever LGCT Grand Prix podium.

The Longines Global Champions Tour now turns its eyes to Vienna, where the grandeur of the Schönbrunn Palace will host the next chapter from 26–28 September. But for those lucky enough to be in Liberty State Park on this unforgettable day, the memory will remain – the bright lights, the big city, and a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix that was pure New York magic.

Full class replay available now on GCTV.

FULL RESULTS