Alaska Z signs for two top placings in Opglabbeek

The Easter Tour 2026 kicked off at Opglabbeek's Sentower Park last weekend. For three weeks there will be international action at the Meynaerts' home, first at two-star and then three-star level. The opening week immediately saw many fine moments, with several Z-horses claiming starring roles throughout the weekend.

One of the horses that stood out in Opglabbeek was the 11-year-old stallion Alaska Z, a son of Asca Z and Utrillo Z bred by Nicky Dilliën and her partner Jean Jordens. Alaska Z has now been a combination with Belgian rider Brecht Goossens for quite some time and last weekend the strong duo signed for two top placings. That first top ranking came on Friday, when they claimed a podium place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking class. In a jump-off for which 19 out of eighty-one combinations qualified, they again kept it clear and with a finishing time of 36.13 seconds they secured ^3rd place in the rankings.

But also in the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, Goossens and Alaska Z were on the rendezvous and could be found in the top rankings. They again stayed clear in the first round and were among the no fewer than twenty-seven combinations that managed to advance to the jump-off. There they once again showed their excellent form, as they took ^4th place this time with a flawless round in 43.75 seconds.

Victory in the Longines Ranking Test on Friday was for Irish rider Eoin Mcmahon and the 10-year-old grey stallion Disney Z, a son of Dimitri Z and Numero Uno bred in Denmark by Baekgaarden Youngsters. They sped to the finish in 35.59 seconds in the 19-strong jump-off, just under a quarter of a second ahead of their closest pursuers.

On Saturday, we also noted two blue/yellow victories and one of them came in the name of Patrick Mc Entee and the 13-year-old gelding Lloyd's Mury Marais Z, a son of Levisto Z and Kojak from the breeding farm of Catherine De Buyl Insurance S.A.. Mc Entee and Lloyd's Mury Marais Z became the overall winners of the 1.40m morning class, where they were over a quarter of a second faster than the number two in the rankings with a clear^2nd phase in 33.59 seconds.

A second victory on Saturday went to Belgian rider Michaël Vreys and his 10-year-old breeding product Heideroosje van Plockroy Z, a daughter of Heidelberg van het Lindenhof and Ogano Sitte. Vreys and Heideroosje van Plockroy Z were the best in the 1.35m class. They finished in the^2nd phase in 24.79 seconds, outclassing the competition by more than a full second. His compatriot Victor de Boitselier and the 11-year-old mare Looks Good de Liebri Z (Lector van den Bisschop x Bentley van de Heffinck - breeder: Lieven Bruyneel) followed in ^3rd place in this section. They finished in that^2nd phase in 26.69 seconds.

The main number on Saturday, however, was the 1.45m class and with two Z-horses on the podium, this class also became a success story for our studbook colours. The silver went to Irish rider Denis Lynch and the 11-year-old gelding Junius Vd Heffinck Z (VDL Groep Jos Van d'Abdijhoeve x Cabrio Z - breeder: Van De Heffinck BVBA), with whom he already started his competition week on Thursday with a ^9th place in the 1.40m class. In a class against the clock, Lynch and Junius Vd Heffinck Z did not make a mistake in a time of 59.71 seconds.

Belgian rider Aaron Tijskens also managed to secure a place on the podium with 12-year-old grey mare Carrera van de Wolfsakker Z (RMF Cadeau de Muze x Heartbreaker - breeder: Miriam Van der Kloet). Tijskens and Carrera van de Wolfsakker Z, who were also good for ^4th place during the 1.40m class on Thursday, sped to the finish line in 60.18 seconds, which finally entitled them to ^3rd place. His compatriot Maurice van Roosbroeck and the 12-year-old gelding Emir du Coeur des Collines Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Calypso III - breeder: Eric Vandewiele) closed the top of the standings in ^5th place.

With two top 10 placings, it was also a successful weekend for Belgian rider Neal Vanderwegen and the 8-year-old gelding Brilliant D&E Z (Bamako de Muze x Diamant de Semilly - breeder: Ernie Van Den Berg & Dries Lammens). They immediately made an excellent start to their competition on Thursday, securing podium places in the 1.40m class. With a clear^2nd phase in 27.12 seconds, they took^2nd place there. A day later another top ranking followed for Vanderwegen and Brilliant D&E Z, when they jumped to ^6th place during another 1.40m class.

Then in the 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier on Thursday, Brazilian rider Yuri Mansur again made it into the top three of the standings with the 10-year-old stallion Mister Conti Blue (ex Cornellini Z - Cornet Obolensky x Monte Bellini - breeder: Haras Ronconada). They provided a flawless round in this speed class, with ^3rd place as the final result.

Finally, Belgian rider Niels Fockaert also jumped into the limelight with his 12-year-old chestnut stallion Bliksem Mc Queen 111 Z (Bamako de Muze x Lord Z - breeder: Harrie Theeuwes Stables). In the 1.40m class on Thursday, they finished ^4th after a clear round.