11 February '26
Daughter of Jenson van 't Meulenhof Z secures podium finish in CSI4* Grand Prix of Vejer
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Studbook
© Sportfot
The Andalucia Sunshine Tour 2026 officially kicked off in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, last week. For seven weeks there will be international show jumping in the south of the country, with both up-and-coming talents and renowned names appearing in the ring. Despite the inclement weather conditions, this opening week immediately produced many great moments, with our blue and yellow colours also coming to the fore on several occasions.
The absolute apotheosis of this first week in Vejer de la Frontera was of course the CSI4* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, which yielded success for the offspring of our stallion Jenson van 't Meulenhof Z. After an exciting denouement, Dutch rider Finn Boerekamp and the 11-year-old mare Just Penelope Jw van de Moerhoeve, a daughter of Jenson van 't Meulenhof Z and Tinka's Boy bred by Jan Wuytack, were able to take the podium. After their basic round, Boerekamp and Just Penelope Jw van de Moerhoeve also kept it neatly clear in the jump-off and with a finishing time of 43.94 seconds they secured a nice2nd place.
Later in the afternoon, the 1.45m Small Tour was also on the programme at the Milton Arena, and in it, too, silver was coloured blue and yellow. Boerekamp's compatriot Vincent Voorn and the 10-year-old mare Eowyn de Goedereede Z, a daughter of Elvis Ter Putte and Nabab de Rêve from the breeding farm of De Goedereede BVBA, took care of that. In a jump-off for which 12 combinations qualified, they crossed the finish line in 37.32 seconds, just over a full second short of the top prize.
In the 1.40m Big Tour which took place at the Cumano Arena in the morning, it was British rider Chloé Winchester who ensured success with the 9-year-old mare Exited Z (E Star x Toulon - breeder: Everse Stables). In both the1st and2nd phases, they produced a flawless performance and with a finishing time of 27.58 seconds, they too had a2nd place.
However, there was also a blue/yellow victory to note on Sunday. In the 1.35m Small Tour, it was German rider Rafael Eden who claimed the win with the 11-year-old mare Celebrity - H, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and No Limit who was born as Celebrity From Second Life Z to breeders Thierry Hendrikx and Sandra Naviaux of Second Life Stables. In a 19-strong jump-off, Eden and Celebrity - H managed to stop the clock in 36.32 seconds, giving them a lead of over a full second over the rest of the field of competitors. Portuguese rider Nuno Tiago Gomes and the 8-year-old mare Dolce vd Sint-Amandshoeve Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Kannan - breeder: Guy Devos) then took 3rd place after a clear jump-off in 39.73 seconds.
Golden Saturday
Saturday was a real top day for our blue and yellow colours in Vejer de la Frontera, as no fewer than three Zangersheide victories were recorded. One of those victories came in the name of Swiss rider Edouard Schmitz and the 10-year-old gelding Dillen 111 Z, a son of De Flor 111 Z and Clovis who was born with the Theeuwes family at Stud 111. In the 1.45m Big Tour, Schmitz and Dillen 111 Z reached the finish line in the jump-off in 39.77 seconds, making them the only combination to manage to keep the chrono under 40 seconds.
Also on Saturday, Italian rider Andrea Pisani also managed to jump to victory with the now 16-year-old grey gelding Charlemagne JT Z, a son of Cachas and Carthago Z from the breeding farm of Johan Thijs and also a half-brother of the likes of Hardrock Z (Heartbreaker) and the legendary mare Cocaine Z (Caretano Z). Pisani and Charlemagne JT Z became the overall winners of the 1.45m Small Tour, where they outclassed the competition with a clear2nd phase in 30.76 seconds.
The third and final victory on this golden Saturday fell to Belgian rider Louise Losfeld and the 13-year-old mare Athina Louise Z (Arko III x Ugano Sitte - breeder: Christine Callewaert). Losfeld and Athina Louise Z jumped to victory in the 1.35m Medium Tour, in which they were almost two full seconds ahead of the competition with a whirlwind round in 64.17 seconds.
Successful Friday
There was also a lot of blue/yellow success on Friday, including one victory. That was done by British rider Holly Smith and the 8-year-old gelding Sing Z, a breeding product of Marcel Schrijvers who combined the blood of Copycat Z with that of Contact van de Heffinck. Smith and Sing Z triumphed during the 1.45m Big Tour, where they outclassed the competition with a clear2nd phase in 27.94 seconds. A day later, they also confirmed this performance by jumping to a nice 4th place during another 1.45m-high Big Tour.
In2nd place during this 1.45m-high Big Tour on Friday we also saw a Z-horse thanks to the 9-year-old stallion Agassi Z, a son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Cruyff who was born in the Netherlands to breeder Freek Hoogenboom. Saddled by Edouard Schmitz, Agassi Z also jumped a double clear round, only it took them 28.95 seconds to complete their2nd phase.
During the 1.40m Medium Tour on Friday, no fewer than two Z-horses jumped to a podium place. So2nd place was for Italian rider Andrea Calabro with the 9-yr-old mare Carla Z (Cumano x Kashmir V. Schuttershof - breeder: As Sport Horses BVBA), while home rider Álvaro González De Zarate Fernandez and the also 9-yr-old stallion Andy Star K Z (High Big Andi K x Al Pacino W - breeder: Cees Klaver) seized 3rd place. They both managed to stay neatly clear in both the1st and2nd phases. German rider Harm Lahde and the 10-year-old stallion Kingston de l'Eau Z (Kannan x Sioux de Baugy - breeder: Hof Ter Leeuwe) followed just after the podium in 4th place.
Furthermore, Estonian rider Margareth Eikner also achieved2nd place on Friday with the 11-year-old gelding Corvette 2G Z (Comme Il Faut x Quasimodo vd Molendreef), with the suffix 2G referring to breeder Geoffrey Geerts. Eikner and Corvette 2G Z achieved this silver place during the 1.40m Small Tour, in which they delivered a flawless round.
Strong opening day
The show in Vejer de la Frontera already started on Thursday and during this opening day we already saw some Z-horses jumping into the limelight. In the 1.50m Big Tour, Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen immediately stood out with the 9-year-old mare Farah Z (For Pleasure x Caretano Z), also a breeding product of Freek Hoogenboom. In a class against the clock, Thijssen and Farah Z managed to stop the clock in 61.94 seconds, which earned them 4th place in the rankings.
In doing so, they did just one place better than Harm Lahde and the 13-year-old gelding Echo van Spalbeek Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Cornet's Stern - breeder: Frans Liefsoens), who were good for 5th place in the rankings. They too ensured a tight clear round in a time of 63.47 seconds.
Last but not least, there was also a 5th place on Thursday for British Gemma Stevens and the 13-year-old stallion Envoy Merelsnest Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Voltaire - breeder: Horses BVBA). They achieved this top 5 ranking during the 1.45m Medium Tour.