March 2, 2024 
If you were wagering on which pair would win the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha, Abdel Saïd and Bonne Amie wouldn’t have been the favorites.
The pair has been together for just over two years. But until three months ago, they’d never earned a podium finish—at any height—on the LGCT tour. Or any other international class. Zero.
But while their results haven’t been spectacular, they have been consistent.
The 11-year-old mare rarely pulls more than a rail at the 1.60m height. Her Jumpr App 4 Faults of Less average over 23 rounds at 1.60m with Saïd is 78%. Her Top 10 Finish average at the height: 45%.
In December, their performance record gained its first entry with a second place in the 1.55m CSI4* Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Riyadh.
On Saturday in Doha, they added another and one more impressive still. Their first LGCT Grand Prix title.
“I am really delighted with her, she’s an incredible horse but she’s a sensitive big lady. I struggled a little in the jump-offs last year, I would maybe override her a little or not ride with enough feeling… but today it felt as though she matured and grew with some small changes and I am really thrilled that it came together today, she truly deserves this win,” said Saïd.
It was a hard earned one at that. Topping a 10-horse jump off, he and Bonne Amie narrowly edged out Harry Allen and Calculatus by two tenths of a second to take the win.
Watch their head to head:
Saïd is now the first rider qualified for the LGCT Super Grand Prix in November. It will also take place in Riyadh. Which is to say, their odds just went up again.
