15 October '25
Baron - RR Z triumphs in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Lier
© EHBO Apers
Domestically, the international indoor season kicked off last weekend at the Hazebroek family's Azelhof in Lier. There was a two-star competition on the programme that once again attracted a lot of top riders and promising combinations to the Antwerp arena. It immediately turned into a successful weekend for our studbook colours, as victory in the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon coloured blue and yellow!
The CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon formed the apotheosis of this international weekend in Lier and brought a total of forty-six combinations to the start. The level during this first Grand Prix of the indoor season was immediately sky-high, as no fewer than sixteen combinations managed to finish the 1.45m basic round of Eddy Geysemans and thus qualify for the jump-off. One of those candidate winners was Belgian rider Gudrun Patteet and the 8-year-old gelding Baron - RR Z, a son of Bamako de Muze and Diamant de Semilly bred by the duo Robin Denijs and Raf Van De Perre. Patteet and Baron - RR Z managed to repeat that flawless performance in the jump-off and after a finishing time of 37.05 seconds, they wrote this Grand Prix on their record of achievements with a close second ahead of the competition.
Saturday around noon in Lier there was another blue and yellow victory thanks to Brazilian rider Stephanie Macieira and the also 8-year-old mare Kantella Van 't Merelsnest Z, a daughter of Kannan and Plot Blue who, as her name suggests, was bred by the Van Bunder family of Stoeterij 't Merelsnest. Macieira and Kantella Van 't Merelsnest, who already started their show on Thursday with a 7th place in the 1.35m opening class, became the winners of the 1.35m class there, where they held everything and everyone at bay with a clear round in 67.02 seconds. On Sunday morning, they also confirmed their good form a third time when they took 3rd place in the 1.35m high morning class.
The main class on Saturday, however, was the 1.40m Final that took place in the evening and in it, too, we saw some Z-horses shine at the top of the leaderboard. These included a podium place for Dutch rider Gert-Jan Bruggink and the also 8-year-old gelding Fellow de Will Z (For Pleasure x Catoki - Breeder: EURL C. Eole). In a jump-off for which 16 combinations qualified, they crossed the finish line in 42.73 seconds after a clear round, giving them final 3rd place in the rankings.
Just off the podium followed Belgian rider Dirk Demeersman and the 9-year-old stallion Carrasco Z (Cornet Obolensky x Diamant de Semilly - Breeder: Cavallini Stables), with whom he also gained 8th place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test the day before. Demeersman and Carrasco Z also jumped a clear jump-off in this 1.40m Final, but needed 43.01 seconds to complete their round. Demeersman's compatriot Nathan Budd and the 8-year-old stallion Ely des Rosiers Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve - Breeder: Herik Duran) secured 5th place here.
During the Longines Ranking Test on Friday, two Z-horses also managed to finish in the top five, with the best performance coming from Belgian rider Maurice van Roosbroeck and the 11-year-old gelding Emir du Coeur des Collines Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Calypso III - Breeder: Eric Vandewiele). In both the basic round and the jump-off they produced a flawless round and with a chrono time of 41.58 seconds they secured 4th place. That was one place better than compatriot Marine Scauflaire and the 8-year-old grey mare Unaki de Bornival Z (Untouchable x Catoki - Breeder: GS Stables - D. Stalpaert). They finished in the jump-off in 41.66 seconds, which was thus good for 5th place.
On Thursday during the opening day, a 1.40m class was on the programme for the riders of the two-star competition and in it Dutch rider Marriët Smit-Hoekstra jumped to a top ranking with her 11-year-old gelding Duco Z (Dakar VDL x Riverman - Breeder: P.C. van den Berg). A strong and clear round in 59.10 seconds earned the successful duo a great2nd place in the rankings.
Finally, Irish rider Killian Norris managed to place twice with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Kai Mook Ac Z (Kannan x Catalani - Breeder: Ann Coppens). They started their competition on Thursday with a 6th place in the 1.40m class and finished in style on Sunday with a great2nd place in the 1.35m morning class.