Akarad Hero Z’s son shines at the Williamsburg World Cup

Last weekend, of course, a great deal of attention was focused on the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken, but there were also plenty of other international shows on the programme. In the US, for instance, all eyes were already on the start of the new World Cup season in the North American League. The first leg of the season proved an immediate success for our blue and yellow colours, with a descendant of Akarad Hero Z jumping his way to a place on the World Cup podium.

The new World Cup season in the North American League kicked off at the Traverse City Horse Show in Williamsburg and immediately provided plenty of excitement and thrills. A total of 34 riders and horses were entered for this season opener, and five of them successfully completed the 1.60m-high basic round. One of those five contenders for victory was the reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk and the 10-year-old gelding Akarad Tivoli Z, a son of our stallion Akarad Hero Z and Landwind II B, who was bred in the Netherlands by the Zwartjens family. Kukuk and Akarad Tivoli Z, who had secured ^third place at the CSI5* Grand Prix in Bridgehampton at the end of last month, put in a rock-solid performance, clocking the winning time of 37.68 seconds. However, they also knocked a bar off the fence along the way, meaning they ultimately had to settle for^third place once again.

Christian Kukuk: “I’m actually very pleased with my performance in the first round, because it was a tough challenge for my horse and myself. He has a big canter, but he’s a slower horse. So I had to pull something out of the bag. I decided to take out a canter stride here and there, but then I thought I could do the same in the jump-off and got a bit too eager. We’ve learnt something today, but above all I’m incredibly proud of my horse. He’s a very special horse, truly very special. I believe in him wholeheartedly and have high hopes for the future with him.”

American rider Charlotte Jacobs also secured a place in the jump-off with her 11-year-old gelding Playboy JT Z, the son of Presley Boy and Plot Blue, who was bred by Johan Thijs. However, Jacobs decided to sit out the jump-off, meaning she ultimately finished in^5th place.

Alongside the five-star competition, there were also two-star events held in Williamsburg last weekend, and several Z-class horses put in strong performances there too. On Wednesday, the opening day, a victory was secured straight away thanks to the Canadian rider Erynn Ballard and the 8-year-old gelding Chocolat van de Broy Z, a son of Casallo Z and Lord, bred by Birgit Engelbosch. Ballard and Chocolat van de Broy Z competed in the 1.40m class, where they took a narrow lead over the competition with a clear round in 61.18 seconds. A day later, the pair made their mark once again by securing^third place in the 1.45m class.

Incidentally, during that 1.45m class on Thursday, a second Z-horse also made it to the top of the rankings.^Fourth place went to the American rider Alessandra Volpi and the 9-year-old gelding Come On Z, a son of Comme Il Faut and VDL Zirocco Blue who was bred by Jorgen Eriksen. Just like Ballard and Chocolat van de Broy Z, Volpi and Come On Z also delivered a flawless performance.

Finally, there were also two Z-level horses that caught the eye during Saturday’s CSI2* Grand Prix.^Fourth place went to the Irish rider Shane Sweetnam on the 11-year-old mare Loulou Mpsz (Böckmanns Lord Pezi Junior x Semper Fi 4 – breeder: Marc Pierzina), whilst Allessandra Volpi claimed^5th place in this class with the equally 11-year-old mare Candy Luck Z (Comme Il Faut x Canturo – breeder: Dirk Geerinckx). Both riders remained faultless in both the first round and the jump-off.