While world number one Kent Farrington raced to a record tying sixth five-star Grand Prix title in Traverse City, MI on Sunday, another rider sporting a number one armband was climbing the podium in New York.

Longines Global Champions Tour rankings leader Gilles Thomas, 27, extended his considerable lead with a dominating Grand Prix win in the LGCT New York on Sunday. It’s his second LGCT Grand Prix title of the 2025 season. With 261 points, he now has a 74 point advantage that will take a minor miracle to beat over the final three legs of the LGCT season.

“It’s been an amazing season, and wearing this armband motivates me even more to perform in every LGCT Grand Prix!” said Thomas.

The rising Belgian star has every reason to be inspired in the Big Apple. Three of his four 1.60m+ GP career wins have been at LGCT events. He won the Paris leg earlier this year with Ermitage Kalone and in Shanghai last year on Luna van het Dennehof.

His latest is his most impressive yet. Thomas topped an 11-horse jump off in New York with Qalista DN. The Belgian Warmblood mare is just nine and bested runners up Thibault Philippaerts and Pittman v/h Lilleveld by over half a second (31.07 seconds to 31.72).

The mare made her 1.60m debut just three months ago at LGCT St Tropez and finished fourth in the Grand Prix. In August, they landed their first 1.60m GP podium, a third place finish at LGCT Valkenswaard and on Sunday, they claimed their first 1.60m win.

Did we mention that she’s only nine?!

It’s just the latest milestone in a career best season for Thomas, who cracked the world top 10 for the first time this month. He’s currently ranked no. 6 in the world.

The LGCT next heads to Vienna, September 26–28.

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