12 May '25
Captain Morgan Weering Z wins the first CSI4* Grand Prix of Lido Di Camaiore
© Longines Versilia Horse Show presented by Giorgio Armani
Under the sun of Tuscan Lido Di Camaiore, international show jumping had a promising premiere last weekend. With the very first edition of the Longines Versilia Horse Show, Italy gained an exclusive CSI4* competition and it immediately became a real hit. The highlight of the weekend - the CSI4* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon - became a real eye-catcher and a sporting hit for our blue and yellow colours of Zangersheide.
Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani and his team had mapped out a beautiful but challenging course for this first Grand Prix in Lido Di Camaiore. Of the 50 combinations that took their chances in this Grand prix, only eight managed to complete the 1.55m high basic course and thus qualify for the jump-off. One of those barragists was Italian rider Giulia Martinengo Marquet and her 10-year-old gelding Captain Morgan Weering Z, a son of Carrera VDL and Arezzo VDL who was bred in the Netherlands by Stal de Weering and whom she also managed to score a2nd place in the 1.50m main class on Friday. Martinengo Marquet and Captain Morgan Weering Z came into the jump-off as the very last combination in the ring again and with strong rounds in 43.32 seconds they ensured a resounding home victory.
However, Martinengo Marquet and Captain Morgan Weering Z were not the only ones to ensure success during this closing round of the weekend, as bronze was also blue and yellow there. Belgian rider Celine Schoonbroodt-De Azevedo took care of that with her 14-year-old grey gelding Clinto T Z, a son of Clintissimo Z and Indoctro bred by Rudi Tans. Schoonbroodt-De Azevedo and Clinto T Z also managed to go clear again in jump-off, but needed 44.60 seconds to complete their round.
On Saturday, the main class in Lido Di Camaiore was a 1.50m class over two rounds and in it, too, some Z-horses managed to jump into the picture. Among them was a podium place for Swiss rider Niklaus Rutschi and the 12-year-old gelding Amar des Brimbelles Z, a son of Amadeus Z and Russel II bred in France by Haras des Brimbelles. In both the first and the second and decisive round, Rutschi and Amar des Brimbelles Z did not make a mistake and with a finishing time of 38.08 seconds they secured2nd place.
Also in this 1.50m class, Rutschi's compatriot Barbara Schnieper was also among the prize winners with the 10-year-old gelding Coco G Z, a son of Cornet Obolensky and Contendro I from the breeding farm of W. Van Gestel. Schnieper and Coco G Z rushed to the finishing line in 39.13 seconds in the second round and this performance earned them 4th place in the standings, just like during the 1.40m class on Thursday. During the CSI4* Grand Prix on Sunday, Schnieper and Coco G Z additionally confirmed their good form with 9th place. Then a mistake in the basic round unfortunately kept them out of the jump-off.
Another notable combination was Swiss rider Jane Richard and the 10-year-old gelding Aequitus Vd Bergerhof Z, a breeding product of Frank Damiaens who combined the blood of Andiamo Z with that of Limbus Z. Richard and Aequitus Vd Bergerhof Z started three times and managed to jump into the prizes three times. On Friday they started their show with a 5th place in the 1.35m class, on Saturday they won the 1.35m class and on Sunday they ended their show with a 6th place in the 1.45m accumulator class.
In that 1.35m class on Friday morning, victory went to Italian rider Sofia Frizzarin with the 11-year-old chestnut mare Caipirinha Van De Tichelrij Z, a daughter of Clarimo ASK and Voltaire bred by Evi Wolfs. Frizzarin and Caipirinha Van De Tichelrij Z kept nicely clear in both the1st and2nd phases and were a quarter of a second ahead of the competition after they managed to stop the clock in 31.60 seconds.
Finally, there were also two other combinations who managed to take the prizes twice in Lido Di Camaiore. For example, Italian rider Ella Simonetti finished 8th twice with the 10-year-old stallion Asjemenou Sr Z (Andiamo Z x Carthago Z - B: Keystud / E & MJ Keys), while young Brazilian rider Luiz Felipe Neto de Azevedo managed to secure 9th place twice with the also 10-year-old chestnut gelding Click Clack VDC Z (Comilfo Plus Z x Indian Gold van Castershoeve - B: Joke Mardaga).