April 21, 2018 
Gregory Wathelet just booked his ticket to the Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix in Prague this December.
The Belgian rider went pedal to the metal with the 12-year-old Westphalian mare Coree to seize victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Grand Prix of Shanghai, China on Saturday. Second in the order for the short track, the pair topped a 12-horse jump off with a “Formula-1-fast” round, finishing 1.69 seconds ahead of their closest rival.
“I knew I had to take all the risks and she jumped amazing,” said Wathelet.
“I did one more stride to the double but took them out everywhere else. I had a really good turn to fence three but it was later on that I think I got the [winning margin] of one second.”
Great Britain’s Ben Maher and the nine-year-old Explosion W, took the runner up spot in 38.55 seconds. Germany’s Daniel Deusser and the nine-year-old Tobago Z, third in 39.11 seconds.
“Even if I could try a couple of times more I’m not sure if I would beat Gregory,” said Deusser afterwards.
The victory in China means Wathelet is now one of three riders to earn a ticket to the Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix at the new GC Prague Play Offs in December. He’ll be up against Miami Beach winner Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) and the victor of Mexico City, Scott Brash (GBR).
