29 June '26
Artic JT Z shines on the Grand Prix podium in Ocala
© Andrew Ryback Photography
With no fewer than four international competitions on the programme, there was plenty of top-class sport to enjoy in the United States last weekend. One of those competitions took place at the magnificent World Equestrian Centre in Ocala, where the third week of the 2026 Summer Series was on the programme. The CSI4* Grand Prix was the absolute highlight of the weekend, and in it, a Z-class horse managed to secure an impressive podium place.
Saturday evening is traditionally Grand Prix time in Ocala, and it once again drew a large crowd last weekend. A total of twenty rider-horse pairs were on the start list, eight of whom successfully completed the 1.55m-high basic round designed by course designer Alan Wade and his team. One of those eight contenders for victory was local rider Brian Cournane and the 10-year-old stallion Artic JT Z, a son of Aktion Pur Z and Plot Blue, bred by Johan Thijs of Horsestud Thijs BVBA. Cournane and Artic JT Z, who had already secured 5th place on Thursday in the 1.50m-high qualifier for this Grand Prix, kept all the bars in place in the jump-off too, and with a finishing time of 44.10 seconds, they secured third place on the podium.
Also in this CSI4* Grand Prix, the Portuguese rider Luis Sabino Gonçalves once again achieved a fine result with his 12-year-old chestnut gelding Scoop de Septon Z, the son of Hunters Scendro and Echo van ’t Spieveld, who was born at Elevage de Septon. Gonçalves and Scoop de Septon Z, who had already secured8th place in the qualifier on Thursday, clocked the winning time of 40.70 seconds, but a minor fault along the way ultimately denied them victory and meant they had to settle for5th place.
In addition to these impressive performances with Scoop de Septon Z, Gonçalves also enjoyed a particularly successful weekend with the 9-year-old mare Gallaxia De Ferval Z, a daughter of George Z and Nabab de Rêve from the stud of French breeder Leslie Guillon. The pair competed three times throughout the competition and managed to secure a place in the top ten of the rankings on each occasion. On Wednesday, they began their competition with a4th place in the 1.45m class, before securing2nd place in the 1.50m class on Thursday. On Friday, they rounded off their strong performance with a7th place in another 1.45m class.
Furthermore, New Zealander Sharn Wordley also managed to make the top 10 of the rankings twice with the 12-year-old gelding Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z (Bamako de Muze x Baloubet du Rouet), a horse bred by Georges Trulemans. Wordley and Brin d’Or de Haute Melen Z first made their mark on Wednesday with a third place in the 1.40m opening class, whilst they took seventh place in the CSI4* Grand Prix.
Two-Star Competition
As well as the four-star competition, there have also been two-star events taking place in Ocala over the past few days, and a number of Z-class horses have made their mark there too with some fine performances. One such horse was the 9-year-old stallion Don d’Alme C Z, a son of Don Diablo HX and PKZ Contact van de Heffinck, who was bred in the Netherlands by Erik and Karin Cuypers. Ridden by the Venezuelan Pablo Barrios, Don d’Alme C Z also managed to secure three top-10 placings. On Thursday, they began their competition with a 6th place in the 1.45m class, followed in the days that followed by a 10th place in the 1.45m class on Friday and a 5th place in the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday.
Finally, American rider Chloe Reid also managed to secure two placings with the 9-year-old stallion Dragonball, a son of Diamant de Semilly and Landjunge who was born at Stud Sarl RBC in France as Deep Purple RBC Z. Following a fine 5th place in the 1.40m class on Wednesday, Reid and Dragonball took7th place in the CSI2* Grand Prix.