27 December '25
Déjà-vu in Mechelen with Gilles Thomas and Saladin 'S' now also at the top among 7-year-old stallions
© Paardenfotograaf
The jumping class for the 7-year-old stallions at Jumping Mechelen this afternoon had a remarkably recognisable scenario. Like last year in the 6-year-olds, we saw the same combination return to the top of the podium, which made for a real déjà-vu moment in the Christmas Arena. The Zangersheide Prize for 7-year-old stallions proved once again to be in the hands of Gilles Thomas and Saladin 'S'.
A total of thirteen combinations appeared at the start of the basic round, in which the level was particularly high. No fewer than nine combinations managed to clear the 1.35m high basic round, run by Bart Vonck and his team, and thus qualify for the all-decisive jump-off. In that jump-off, Gilles Thomas again drew the longest straw with Saladin 'S', the son of Ducati van Schuttershof and Cash from the Hens - Verhelst breeding farm, who is also out of the same dam as Thomas' former Grand Prix horse Konak (Nabab de Rêve). As the penultimate combination in the ring, the duo went all out and with a dazzling clear round in 38.14 seconds, they once again left the competition no chance.
Thomas and Saladin 'S' thus edged out Dutchman Harrie Smolders and the stallion Ecclestone Z (Escape Z x Cassini II) from the breeding farm of Willem van Hoof and Yvonne Copal for2nd place again this year. Smolders and Ecclestone Z had taken over the lead just before after a clear round in 42.38 seconds, but after the Belgian combination's performance, Smolders and Ecclestone Z thus had to lose out again this year and settle for first place of honour.
The bronze once again remained in Belgian hands thanks to Niels Fockaert and the stallion North Star TMS, a son of Apardi and Casall, with the letters TMS referring to breeder Tal Milstein Stables. As the 3rd combination in the jump-off, Fockaert and North Star TMS had set the tone with a clear round in 44.67 seconds, good for a deserved podium place.
Furthermore, in the top five of the standings we also saw Thibeau Spits with Emir de Toxandria Z (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Cento Lano - breeder: Werner Dierckx), while Gilles Thomas added lustre to his strong performance with a 5th place thanks to Scotch van Het Dennehof (Ducati vh Schuttershof x Prince vd Wolfsakker - breeders: Patrick De Muynck & Marc Van Dijck).
Click here for the results.