02 June '25
Dourkhan Hero Z wins the CSI5* Grand Prix of Hamburg
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Studbook
© P&O Fotografie
Christian Ahlmann and our stallion Dourkhan Hero Z have made history again! After the successful duo already impressed in recent weeks and months with a handsome fourth place at the two CSI5* Grand Prix of Monterrey and more recently the LGCT Grand Prix of Mexico City, a new milestone in their still young partnership followed last weekend. On Hamburg's impressive grass arena, Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z impressed again and jumped to their first-ever CSI5* Grand Prix victory after a masterful performance!
Hamburg's prestigious show is undoubtedly one of the great events of the year and of course home rider Christian Ahlmann was not to be missed there. The show has proven to be particularly successful for Ahlmann several times in the past, as he has already managed to win the CSI5 Grand Prix twice with both Codex One Z in 2013 and Dominator 2000 Z in 2022. For this 2025 edition, Ahlmann called on the 10-year-old stallion Dourkhan Hero Z, the son of Sea Coast Don't Touch Tiji Hero and Zandor Z bred by Luc Henry, on Saturday afternoon. Together they were among the forty-seven combinations that made their appearance at this CSI5* Grand Prix and after a clear basic round, they were one of the eight combinations that qualified for the jump-off. In it, they also had the luxury of being the very last combination to re-enter the ring. Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z managed to keep their cool and, with a stunning finishing time of 40.99 seconds, they wrote their very first CSI5* Grand Prix on their record with much conviction.
Christian Alhmann: "I really enjoyed it. The past two years I was haning around a bit in the middle of the field of competitors, but before that I also had a great time with Taloubet Z, Codex One Z and Dominator Z. These were all exceptional horses - the kind you don't get to ride every day. Dourkhan Hero Z really delivered a brilliant performance today. In the jump-off, I looked at Christian (Kukuk) and thought it was already decided. On the screen it looked perfect. I really didn't expect it to still work out. So that it turned out like this in the end made it all the more beautiful."
However, Dourkhan Hero Z's victory was not the only Zangerheide success at this CSI5* Grand Prix, as the bronze also looked blue and yellow. Swedish top rider Peder Fredricson took care of that with his 11-year-old chestnut gelding SV Vroom de la Pomme Z, a son of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Untouchable who was bred by Geert Baertsoen and with whom Fredricson managed to win both the CSI3* Grand Prix of Nancy and the CSIO3* Grand Prix of Mannheim in recent weeks. Fredricson and SV Vroom de la Pomme Z also managed to ensure a clear barrage round, but it took them 44.12 seconds to complete their run.
There was also a victory for the Zangersheide colours in Hamburg on Friday thanks to Mexican rider Andres Azcarraga and the 13-year-old mare Atlantica du Soleil Z, a daughter of Atlantus van de Roshoeve and Felin Pierreville bred in France by Marianna Eichenberger. Azcarraga and Atlantica du Soleil Z shone during the 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier, where they were one of 14 combinations to qualify for the jump-off. In it, they once again managed to keep all the bars in the reels and with a chrono time of 39.98 seconds, they were more than half a second ahead of the rest of the field of competitors.
It was also a successful show in Hamburg for German rider Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and her 9-year-old chestnut mare Tapioca M&O Z, a daughter of Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve and Catoki bred by Aurelien Lejeune, with whom Meyer-Zimmermann has also had some strong performances in recent weeks. Just think of their victory in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Hagen at the end of April. Meyer-Zimmermann and Tapioca M&O Z started their competition on Wednesday with a 9th place in the 1.45m opening class and a day later they managed to secure another 8th place in the 1.55m main class.
CSI4* competition
In addition to the busy CSI5* competition, the past few days in Hamburg also saw jumping at four-star level, in which some Zangersheide horses also managed to stand out. The most eye-catching name in this was undoubtedly that of the 10-year-old mare Comme Elle Faut Odth Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Canabis Z from the stud farm of ODTH NV. Comme Elle Faut Odth Z has been a combination with Belgian rider Mike van Olst for several years now and that strong bond was once again highlighted last weekend.
On Thursday, for instance, van Olst and Comme Elle Faut Odth Z already produced a first brilliant performance by adding the 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier to their record of achievements. In a class against the clock, they sped to the finishing line 59.33 seconds, just under half a second ahead of the competition. But the absolute highlight of the weekend was experienced by the duo during the 1.50m CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday morning. In a jump-off for which eight out of twenty-eight combinations managed to qualify, they left all obstacles untouched in both the basic round and the jump-off, with a great2nd place as final result.
Italian rider Filippo Tabarini also managed to win two more prizes in the CSI4* competition with the 10-year-old stallion Creme De La Creme Z, a breeding product of Carmel Ryan who combined the blood of Cornet Obolensky with that of Carthago Z. Tabarini and Creme De La Creme Z started their competition on Wednesday with a 10th place in the 1.40m class, followed a day later by a 9th place in the 1.45m class.