The €375,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Qatar saw rising star Harry Allen (IRL) and Calculatus narrowly edged.
GCT has unveiled this year's competition calendar which kicks off in Doha on Feb. 29th, with North American stops in Miami and Mexico City.
The Frenchman, aboard Dubai du Cedre, won the rich Longines Global Champions Tour finale at the GC Prague Playoffs.
The 2023 Longines Global Champions Tour battle was between Smolders, Maikel van der Vleuten and Henrik von Eckermann in Riyadh, KSA.
The 2023 Championship title has become a three-man race as the LGCT galloped into historic Circus Maximus in Rome.
It was a popular home win for Sanne Thijssen and Con Quidam RB in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard.
Canada's Beth Underhill and Nikka Vd Bisschop place 6th with two spectacular clear efforts in the rich €350,000 event.
The dutch rider piloted Uricas vd Kattevennen to the win, while Canada's Beth Underhill places 15th with Nikka vd Bisschop.
Ireland's Denis Lynch and Cornets Iberio raced to first place in Thursday's feature class at the beautiful venue on the French Riviera.
The German triumphed in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris after breaking his arm in Mexico in April.