Daughter of Dieu Merci Van T&L Z jumps to silver in CSI2* Grand Prix of Valkenswaard

Busy days last weekend on Dutch soil, where, with the first week of the Summer Festival in Valkenswaard and the beautiful CSI of Ommen, there were two international competitions on the agenda. At the home of Jan Tops and Edwina Tops-Alexander at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, the programme consisted of both a four- and two-star competition, with the CSI2* Grand Prix featuring a podium place for a Z-horse.

On Sunday evening, the CSI2* Grand Prix was the closing round of this first week of the Summer Festival, thus featuring a starring role for one of the Zangersheide horses competing there. Indeed, the silver went to Saudi rider Khaled Almobty and the 10-year-old mare Diana du Plevau Z, a daughter of our stallion Dieu Merci by T&L Z and Kashmir van 't Schuttershof bred by Marc Palm. Almobty and Diana de Pleavau Z were one of 13 combinations to clear the 1.45m basic round without any faults, qualifying for the jump-off. There, they managed to repeat that flawless performance from the first round and with a finishing time of 33.14 seconds they were only ahead of Dutchman Jur Vrieling.

However, Almobty and Diana de Pleavau Z were not the only ones to ensure blue/yellow success at this CSI2* Grand Prix, as Christian Ahlmann also featured in the top five of the standings. He counted on our 16-year-old grey stallion Clintrexo Z, the son of Clintissimo Z and Rex Z who was born and raised at Zangersheide Stud Farm, for this closing round of the weekend. Ahlmann and Clintrexo Z also again held clear in the jump-off and their finishing time of 34.64 seconds then earned them ^5th place overall. Dutch rider Loewie Joppen and the 9-year-old stallion Champions Charles Z (Romeo 88 x Carthago Z - Breeder: Louis Smeets) managed to finish in ^7th place in this Grand Prix. They too did not make a mistake twice.

Earlier on Sunday, the riders of the two-star competition were also expected in the ring for the 1.40m Medium Tour and here too we saw a Z-horse shine on the podium. This was done by Joppens' compatriot Piet Raijmaker Jr and his 13-year-old mare Van Schijndel's Olaya Z, a daughter of Ogano Sitte and Concordie bred by F. van Och, with whom Raijmakers Jr has managed to amass a fine record in recent years. In a jump-off for which sixteen combinations managed to qualify, the successful duo again kept a neat clear round, finishing in ^3rd place.

In the 1.40m Medium Tour on Saturday, Dutch rider Kevin Jochems managed to secure another top ranking with the 10-year-old mare Looks Good de Liebri Z, the breeding product of Lieven Bruyneel who combined the blood of Lector van den Bisschop with that of Bentley van de Heffinck. In a class against the clock, Jochems and Looks Good de Liebri Z sped to the finish in 56.22 seconds, securing^2nd place.

Finally, within the two-star competition, a podium place was also reserved for fast Luxembourger Victor Bettendorf and the 10-year-old chestnut mare Eytuka of Two Notes Z, a daughter of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Chin Chin who was bred by Toby Huys and whom Bettendorf took over from Belgian rider Wilm Vermeir a few months ago. Bettendorf and Eytuka of Two Notes Z made an excellent start to their competition immediately on Friday morning, securing a nice ^3rd place during the 1.45m Big Tour.