Ace Of Hearts Z triumphs in the CSIO4* Grand Prix in Sopot

There was a great deal of attention focused on the CSIO in La Baule in the south of France last weekend, but Nations Cups were also on the programme at three- and four-star level over the past few days. The four-star event took place in Sopot, Poland, where the Z-class horses enjoyed a particularly successful weekend. With three resounding victories, including the CSIO4* Grand Prix, they made a strong impression at the competition.

The Sopot Nations Cup naturally attracted a great deal of interest, but there was also keen anticipation for the CSIO4* Grand Prix, which was scheduled for Sunday afternoon. A total of fifty rider-horse pairs took to the start, with the top thirteen progressing to the second and, crucially, decisive round. After two thrilling rounds, it was the Irish rider Billy Twomey who claimed victory with the 10-year-old grey stallion Ace of Hearts Z, a son of Action-Breaker and Indorado who was bred in the United Kingdom by Ryton Live Stock E. Machon P.ruck. In both the first and second rounds, Twomey and Ace of Hearts Z delivered a flawless performance and, with a finishing time of 41.62 seconds, they outclassed the competition by well over a full second.

Also securing a top-five finish in this CSIO4* Grand Prix were the Colombian rider Marco Antonio Peixoto Ferreira Filho and the 14-year-old gelding Everest v’t Hof V Eversem Z, a son of our chestnut stallion Epleaser van ’t Heike Z and Concreto, who was born at breeder Ronny Maes’s stud. Peixoto Ferreira Filho and Everest v’t Hof Eversem Z also produced two clear rounds and, with a time of 44.35 seconds, finished just off the podium in^4th place.

However, Billie Twomey and Ace of Hearts Z were not the only ones to secure a blue-and-yellow victory in Sopot. In Saturday’s 1.50m main class, it was the Swedish rider Marcus Westergren who jumped to gold with the 12-year-old grey mare Fellaini de Liebri Z, a daughter of Bull Run’s Faustino de Tiji and Corrado I, bred by Lieven Bruyneel of De Liebri BVBA. The pair, who had also secured^second place the day before in the 1.40m class, raced to the finish line in the 18-horse jump-off in 31.71 seconds, giving them a lead of just under half a second over the competition.

First up among the competitors were the Colombian rider Santiago Diaz Ortega and the 11-year-old grey gelding Chasspleen Flamingo Z (Cardento VDL x Dollar du Murier – breeder: Alexandra Rantet). They clocked a time of 32.15 seconds in the jump-off, meaning they ultimately had to settle for^second place.

Also on Thursday, the Portuguese rider Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida secured victory with the 9-year-old gelding Chicco van de Doornhaag Z, a breeding product of Jonas Vertenten that combines the bloodlines of Cicero Z with those of Toulon. Giesteira Almeida and Chicco van de Doornhaag Z were the overall winners of the 1.45m class, where a dazzling round in 57.35 seconds gave them a lead of well over a full second over their closest rivals.

Last but not least, Irish rider Alexander Butler also managed to make a name for himself with the 10-year-old chestnut mare Tequila des Sequoias Z (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Saccor – breeder: Elevage Des Séquoias). Among other events, they competed in the 1.50m class on Friday, where they secured^5th place.