D'Aganix 2000 Z scores podium in Fontainebleau

After a week's hiatus, there was another five-star competition on European soil last weekend, and more specifically at Le Printemps Des Sports Équestres in Fontainebleau, France. Christian Ahlmann also signed on in France and on Saturday he managed to secure a top ranking there with our stallion D'Aganix 2000 Z.

A little after 11.00 am on Saturday morning, the starting gun was fired for the Masters - Prix FFE, a 1.55m class over two rounds in which the best twelve combinations from the first round managed to advance to the second and decisive round. Christian Ahlmann was one of those 12 and could count on our 11-year-old stallion D'Aganix 2000 Z, the son of Zangersheide figureheads Dominator 2000 Z and Aganix du Seigneur Z from the stud of Tony Foriers of Stud 2000, to do so. Ahlmann and D'Aganix 2000 Z also managed to leave all obstacles untouched in the decisive round, and with a finishing time of 48.62 seconds they secured a fine ^3rd place in the standings.

Also in this class, Belgian rider Nathan Budd was also among the prize winners with his 11-year-old stallion Touardo Blue Z, the son of Toulon and Arko III bred by Hugues Delattre. Budd and Touardo Blue Z, good for a ^3rd place at the CSI3* Grand Prix of Compiègne earlier this month, also managed to keep it clear twice and with a chrono time of 54.17 seconds they secured ^5th place.

On Sunday during the final day in Fontainebleau, of course, everything revolved around the CSI5* Grand Prix, and once again several Z-horses gave their best in it. One of them was the 12-year-old grey gelding Iron Man, a son of Charisma Z and Mr. Blue who was born as C-Iron Z in the Netherlands at breeder Stoeterij Duysel's Hof. Ridden by top Irish rider Cian O'Connor, Iron Man stayed clear in both the basic round and the jump-off and this performance earned the duo ^6th place in the rankings.

Belgian rider Pieter Devos followed in ^7th place in this CSI5* Grand Prix with his 10-year-old top mare Casual DV Z, the daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Cicero Z who was born and raised at the home of the Devos family. Devos and Casual DV Z managed to do it in 42.01 seconds even slightly faster than O'Connor and Iron Man, but they also saw a fault in that ultimate jump-off.

The final day on Sunday started in Fontainebleau with a 1.50m accumulator class and in it two Z-horses managed to shine at the top of the leaderboard. So^2nd place went to Swedish rider Petronella Andersson with the 14-year-old chestnut gelding Castres van de Begijnakker Z, a son of Coriano Z and Palestro vd Begijnakker bred by Ann Keisse. Andersson and Castres van de Begijnakker Z finished their round with a maximum score of 65 points, crossing the finishing line in 46.34 seconds.

But ^3rd place in this morning's class was also coloured blue and yellow thanks to Belgian rider Gudrun Patteet and her 10-year-old mare Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z, the daughter of Comme Il Faut and Chacco Blue bred by Evelyne Van Vreckom, with whom Patteet already managed to finish in ^3rd place at the Longines EEF Series in Lier last week. Patteet and Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z also managed to ensure a flawless performance, but they needed 46.75 seconds to complete their round.