Applebridge Tag Z continues success series in Arezzo

While people on Spanish soil enjoyed the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, the past few days also saw international-level show jumping in Italy. Indeed, the second week of the Toscana Tour 2026 was on the programme at the Arezzo Equestrian Centre, where Christian Ahlmann and his Z-horses once again managed to distinguish themselves with a series of top placings.

For one of those top placings, Ahlmann could count on the 9-year-old stallion Applebridge Tag Z, the son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and VDL Corland from the breeding farm of Evert and Ilse van Gorp. Ahlmann and Applebridge Tag Z were already in excellent form in recent weeks, including a victory at the Grand Prix Qualifier of Sharjah last month, and managed to continue that success series last weekend. Indeed, on Friday afternoon they provided another victory during the 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier. In a jump-off for which ten out of a hundred combinations managed to qualify, they once again kept all the bars neatly in the reels and with a finishing time of 39.35 seconds they were just under half a second ahead of the competition.

Ahlmann and Applebridge Tag Z led an integral blue/yellow podium with their victory, as the other top three placings were also taken up by a Z horse. Thus silver to silver went to Irish rider Alexander Butler and the 10-year-old chestnut mare Tequila des Sequoias Z (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Saccor), from the breeding of Elevage Des Séquoias. They too managed to ensure a clear jump-off, but needed 39.77 seconds to complete their round.

Brazilian rider João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes De Lima and the 12-year-old gelding Kenzo Quality Z (Kannan x Con Air 7 - breeder: Quality Stud) completed the podium in ^3rd place. They managed to put a time of 40.38 seconds on the scoreboard in the ten-strong jump-off.

In addition to Applebridge Tag Z, Christian Ahlmann also brought our 10-year-old stallion Querido VG Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Chellano Z - breeder: Aloïs Van Gorp) to the start, among others, and they too managed to secure a podium finish. During the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Saturday afternoon, they sped to the finish in 60.57 seconds, which also earned them ^3rd place in the rankings.

Following their fine performances in recent weeks, Ahlmann also signed up for another strong result with the also 10-year-old stallion Untouched LB Z (United Touch S x Cornet Obolensky - breeder: Lena Bieler & Thomas Verhufel). In the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Sunday, they ensured a clear basic round, making them one of 12 combinations to qualify for the jump-off. In it, they managed to repeat that flawless performance once again, finally securing ^5th place.

Furthermore, Colombian rider Dayro Arroyave also managed to secure a blue/yellow victory with the 8-year-old mare Tundra D'amas Z (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Andiamo Z), bred by Thomas Hoste. Arroyave and Tundra D'amas Z triumphed on Friday, where they became the overall winners in the 1.40m class. In a class against the clock, they crossed the finish line in 57.39 seconds, narrowly beating the competition. Moreover, during the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Sunday, Arroyave and Tundra D'amas Z were again on the rendezvous when they claimed ^3rd place in the standings.

Then again, ^3rd place during that 1.40m class on Friday was for Austrian rider Max Kühner and the 9-year-old gelding Kurt D Z (Kentucky van 't Ruytershof x Comme Il Faut - breeder: Dietrich Denker). They too provided a flawless performance, but needed 60.84 seconds to complete their round.

In the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Sunday, Portuguese rider Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida also made it into the top five of the rankings with the also 9-year-old gelding Chicco van de Doornhaag Z (Cicero Z van Paemel x Toulon - breeder: Jonas Vertenten). Indeed, with a clear jump-off in 42.76 seconds they took the ^4th place in the standings.

There was also a top 5 ranking for home rider Giacomo Casadei and the 12-year-old grey mare Corradiena van 't Kein Asdonk Z (Cornet Obolensky x Andiamo Z - breeder: Eddy Thomas). They appeared at the start of the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Saturday, where they jumped to ^5th place.

With two top 10 placings, it was also a successful weekend in Arrezzo for Dutchman Bart Lips and the 11-year-old gelding Ding Dong van Overis Z (Diamant de Semilly x Chellano Z - breeder: Studfarm Overis). They immediately made their mark on Thursday with a ^3rd place in the 1.40m class, while a day later they also achieved a ^6th place in another 1.40m class.

Besides those good performances with Ding Dong van Overis Z, Lips also jumped into the limelight with the 14-year-old gelding Davinci Z (Dutch Capitol x St. Ludwigs Aquillino - breeder: De Claesstraete Stables). In a second 1.40m class on Thursday, they also achieved a great ^3rd place.

Finally, on Thursday, there were also three other combinations who took top 5 placings. Both British rider Joseph Stockdale and 8-year-old grey mare Do It Rollebeek Z (Dallas VDL x Indorado - breeder: BVBA De Rollebeek) and Swiss rider Noah Keller and 11-year-old Atlanta des Sequoias Z (Aktion Pur Z x Indoctro - breeder: Elevage Des Séquoias) were good for ^4th place, while young German Mick Haunhorst and the 9-year-old mare Lily-Rose JT de la Limite Z (Luigi d'Eclipse x Lancaster V - breeder: Justine Thiry) jumped to a creditable ^5th place.