20 July '23
Double GP victory in Chantilly!!
© Sportfot
The five-star shows of La Coruña and Falsterbo naturally received a lot of attention last weekend, but there was also an important show on French soil with the four-star show of Chantilly Classic. It became a top weekend for our blue/yellow colors from Zangersheide, because we got a Zangersheide horse on top of the podium both during the CSI4* GP and during the CSI2*.
During the CSI4* GP on Saturday afternoon, victory was reserved for the American lady rider Laura Kraut with her 9-year-old mare Bisquetta, a daughter of Bisquet Balou VD Mispelaere and Takashi van Berkenbroeck who was born at the home of breeder Claire McCarthy-Winters as Bisquetta Squalls Estate Z at and with whom Kraut jumped twice to a top 10 ranking last month during the Longines Global Champions Tour in Stockholm. Kraut and Bisquetta remained clear in the basic round and were one of the 17 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off. They managed to repeat that performance again and with a finish time of 41.26 seconds they outsmarted the competition.
The CSI2* GP already took place in Chantilly on Friday afternoon and we also got a blue/yellow victory here. It was the French lady rider Margaux Rocuet who claimed victory here with the 13-year-old chestnut mare Iliade KDW Z, a daughter of Indoctro and Brahmann St Simeon who was bred in France by KDW Horses BVBA. In a jump-off for which 8 combinations were able to qualify, Rocuet and Iliade KDW Z finished in a convincing time of 44.67 seconds, which put them more than 2.5 seconds ahead of the competition.
The 2nd place in this CSI2* GP was reserved for the British rider Tim Gredley with the 8-year-old stallion Tres Bien Z (Toulon x Nabab de Rêve – B: S.t. Dingen), who is also approved for Studbook Zangersheide. Gredley and Tres Bien Z also kept all the poles in the cups, but crossed the finish line in 47.32 seconds. In fourth place we saw the French rider Lucas Fournier and the 9-year-old mare Cyranan Z (Cyrano du Ruisseau Z x Heartbreaker – B: Gobessi Joy Najem Francesca), with whom he also finished 10th on Thursday during the GP Qualifier. They managed to set the 2nd fastest time in 45.40 seconds, but a fault on their way unfortunately kept them from the GP podium.
Also on Friday, the Danish rider Martin Dinesen Neergaard secured a podium place with the 9-year-old stallion Carpe Diem van de Geeneinde Z (Connor x Cassini I – B: André Lavigne). During the CSI4* 1.45m class they remained clear both during the basic round and during the jump-off and this resulted in a 2nd place in the ranking.
During the 1.45m high qualifier for the CSI2* GP on Thursday, victory went to French rider Jean Luc Mourier on the 11-year-old stallion Expert DK Z, a son of Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN and Balou du Rouet who was bred in the Netherlands by Stal de Krochten. In a class against the clock they managed to reach the finish in 67.94 seconds and with that they were almost 3.5 seconds ahead of the competition. His compatriot Penelope Leprévost jumped to a 5th place here with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Fantasy de la Roque Z (For Hero de Hus x Heartbreaker – B: Alexandrine Hecart – Haras de la Roque), with whom she also placed 9th the day before. They also managed to ensure a clear round here.
During the opening day on Wednesday, it was the American rider Michael Hughes who secured a blue/yellow victory. During the CSI2* 1.40m class he became the winner with the 8-year-old gelding Conan van Koningspolder Z, a son of Corydon Van T&L and Pachat II who was bred by Davy Van Ombergen. Hughes and Conan van Koningspolder Z were one of the 13 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off and with a convincing finish time of 43.24 seconds they were more than 4 full seconds ahead of the competition.
The silver went to the French rider Alexis Gourdin with the 12-year-old stallion Ultra D'Aubin Z (Ugano Sitte x Landwind - B: Tom Dupont). They also kept it clear in the jump-off, but with a time of 47.34 seconds they clearly had to recognize their superiority in Hughes and Conan van Koningspolder Z.
Finally, it was also a successful show for the Dutch rider Kevin Jochems with the 8-year-old mare Looks Good de Liebri Z (Lector Vd Bisschop x Bentley Vd Heffinck – B: De Liebri BVBA). They started their show with a 4th place during the 1.35m class on Wednesday and the following days a 5th and a 6th place followed, each time in a 1.40m class.