20 July '26
Darrily Z and E-Star VJ Z are the winning foals on the third day of the 2026 Z Festival
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Studbook/
Zangersheide Foal Championship / Z-Festival/
Zangersheide Foal Championship / STX Cyclus / STX Gouden Laars / Bixie Jumping
© Paardenfotograaf
Yesterday, on the third day of the festival, the Belgian Zangersheide Foal Championship also came to a close at our estate in Lanaken. Following the youngest and middle age groups, it was now the turn of the oldest foals – born between 1 January and 15 April 2026 – to present themselves to our international jury. Once again, this final round showcased a great deal of breeding quality, resulting in several promising winners.
Mare foals
In the final series of filly foals yesterday, twenty-six promising foals were presented to our expert judging panel. Victory went to the impressive foal Darrily Z, a breeding product from Ommersteyn that combines the bloodlines of our stallion Darry Lou Z with those of Uricas van de Kattevennen. Darrily Z’s great-granddam is the mare Zinka De Kalvarie Z (Zandor Z), whom we of course also know as the dam of our Dourkhan Hero Z (Don’t Touch Tiji Hero).
The silver in this series went to the foal Coralie XQ Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Echo van ’t Spieveld, bred by Paulien Schepers of Exclusive Stables. Her dam, Mom’s Lady D van ’t Roosakker, is a direct daughter of Electra van ’t Roosakker (Carthago Z) and thus the full sister of Kent Farrington’s former Grand Prix horse Kaprice.
Third place went to the foal Pegalune O’Life Z, a daughter of Pegase van ’t Ruytershof and Conthargos, bred by Oliva Brants. Her dam, Ultime Peasure, is a half-sister to the mare La Una (Chacco Blue), one of the Grand Prix horses ridden by the Belgian rider Zoe Conter.
Colt foals
It was the oldest colt foals who brought the 2026 Foal Championship to a fitting close yesterday. In this final round, nineteen colt foals were presented to the jury, and it was the foal E-Star VJ Z who emerged as the eventual winner. E-Star VJ Z is a son of Erich and Kardinaal HX and was born at the stud farm of breeder Vince Janssens. His dam, Oradiene, is a half-sister to Ceks 3 (Carrico) and Joey (Caplan), both of whom compete at 1.45m level with Karin Ernsting and Guy Janssens respectively.
Second place went to the foal Dazzling Dominance XQ Z, another breeding product from Paulien Schepers’ Exclusive Stables. Dazzling Dominance XQ Z is a daughter of Dominance 2000 Z and is out of the Chacco Blue mare Chacco’s Lightning JT Z. Dazzling Dominance XQ Z’s granddam is the mare Happy Days Z (Heartbreaker), the full sister of the Grand Prix stallion Hardrock Z.
Finally, the bronze went to Consentius v/h Gouden Bit Z, a son of Chambertin and Contender from Peter Goossens’ stud. His dam, Carmena, is the full sister of the stallion Cosmeo, who competed up to 1.45m level under the Danish rider Andreas Schou.