03 July '24
Quint vh Maarlo Z wins the CSI2* Grand Prix of Wuustwezel
© Axelle Druyts Hens
Much attention last weekend was paid to the international competitions outside our country, but also on Belgian soil, some international action could be enjoyed again during this last weekend of June. The place to be this time was the accommodation of Jan Vermeiren in Wuustwezel, where the Zangersheide horses once again gave the best of themselves and ensured many victories and top placings throughout the weekend!
The star performer was undoubtedly the 14-year-old chestnut stallion Quint vh Maarlo Z, the son of Quidam de Rêvel and Landetto bred by Adrianus Breedveld. Saddled by young Dutch rider Thieu Huijbregts, Quint vh Maarlo Z had already secured a 3rd place in both the 1.40m class on Thursday and the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Friday, but the absolute highlight came on Sunday during the closing CSI2* GP. After a clear first round, Huijbregts and Quint vh Maarlo Z were one of the six combinations that managed to secure a place in the jump-off, in which they once again managed to ensure a flawless performance. In doing so, they sped to the finishing line in 36.63 seconds, putting them almost one and a half seconds ahead of the competition!
Besides the CSI2* GP, there was also a 1.35m class on the programme on Sunday for the CSI2* competition, and in this too we got a Zangersheide horse at the top of the leaderboard. It was the American rider Evan Coluccio who came out on top with the 8-year-old chestnut gelding Mando van de Neerheide Z, a son of Mithras de Regor and Emerald van 't Ruytershof who was bred by Erik Van Giel and comes from the same dam line as, among others, the stallion Taj Mahal (ex Etoile van de Neerheide Z - Emerald van 't Ruyertshof x Quannan R). Coluccio and Mando van de Neerheide Z were more than a quarter of a second ahead of the competition with their finishing time of 63.16 seconds. Furthermore, Belgian rider Andres Vereecke also managed to secure a podium place in this class with the 9-year-old grey stallion Cuba Libre de Muze Z, a son of Cornet Obolensky and Clarissimo Z who, as his name already suggested, was bred by Joris De Brabander. Vereecke and Cuba Libre de Muze Z, also good for a 4th place in the 1.40m class on Friday, also kept it nicely clear, but needed 63.53 seconds to reach the finishing line.
On Saturday, it was Vereecke's compatriot Niels Fockaert who managed a victory with the 9-year-old chestnut stallion Fortune R Z, a son of Fantomas de Muze and Mermus R bred by Yacelo NV, with whom Fockaert was also good for 5th place in the 1.35m class on Thursday. In the 1.40m Choose your course class, Fockaert and Fortune R Z kept nicely clear and with a finishing time of 55.98 seconds they were more than 4 full seconds ahead of the competition.
The 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Friday saw Belgian rider Dieter Vermeiren and his 14-year-old mare Piepke 111 Z, a daughter of Plot Blue and Lord Z bred by Schepens and Stal Harrie Theeuwes NV, take victory. In a class against the clock, Vermeiren and Piepke 111 Z managed to cross the finish line in 65.72 seconds, over a full second ahead of the competition! But thesecond place in this main class of the day was also blue and yellow, and that was taken care of by Dutch rider Siebe Leemans with the 9-year-old grey mare Plopsa Blue Z, also a daughter of Plot Blue and this in combination with Calvados Z. Leemens and the breeding product of Ann Van Heyst also ensured a clear round, but with a time of 66.97 seconds they clearly had to acknowledge their superiority over Vermeiren and Piepke 111 Z's performance.
In addition to his victory with Piepke 111 Z, Dieter Vermeiren also had a strong weekend with his now 16-year-old grey gelding Kingston Town 111 Z, a son of Kashmir Van Schuttershof and Chellano Z who was also bred by Harrie Theeuwes Stables NV. Vermeiren Kingston Town 111 Z started their competition with a 4th place in the 1.40m class on Thursday and the following days saw a 5th place in the 1.40m class on Friday and a 10th place in the CSI2* GP on Sunday.
Finally, Dutch rider Pieter Jan de Visser also managed to jump into the limelight with his two home-bred Zangersheide horses. In the 1.40m class on Thursday, he jumped intosecond place with the 9-year-old stallion Bamaday Z (Bamako de Muze x Cento - B: Jan de Visser) and also managed to place twice with the 9-year-old chestnut mare For-2-Day Z (For Pleasure x Diamant de Semilly - B: Jan de Visser). During the 1.40m class on Thursday, they finished in 7th place and during the 1.45m main class on Saturday, they then managed to secure 8th place in the standings.