08 April '26
Fleuriske Z grabs double in Kronenberg
© Sportfot
Making two appearances at the start and beating all the competition twice in the process... It was all up to Irish rider Daniel Fitzgerald and his 9-year-old grey mare Fleuriske Z last weekend. They made their appearance at the two-star competition at Kronenberg's Peelbergen Equestrian Centre and attracted all the attention with two resounding victories.
The competition in Kronenberg could not have started better for Daniel Fitzgerald and his Fleuriske Z, a daughter of For Pleasure and Royal Bravour bred in the Netherlands by Max Verheij. Indeed, on the opening day on Thursday they crowned themselves winners of the 1.45m Big Tour, a class against the clock that counted towards the Longines Ranking and also qualified for the CSI2* Grand Prix. The duo rushed to the finishing line in 62.48 seconds, building a lead of almost a full second over the competition.
On Saturday afternoon in Kronenberg, it was then looking forward to the CSI2* Grand Prix and in it too, it was Fitzgerald and Fleuriske Z who outclassed everything and everyone. In a jump-off for which thirteen of the seventy-eight combinations qualified, they again kept all the beams neatly in the scoops and with a finishing time of 36.28 seconds they again had a comfortable lead over the rest of the field of competitors.
However, Fitzgerald and Fleuriske Z were not the only ones who managed to score at this CSI2* Grand Prix, as the bronze also coloured blue and yellow there. That was done by Brazilian rider Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and the 10-year-old stallion Eddie G Z, a son of Echo van 't Spieveld and Jodokus bred at Gaesbeek Stud. Zanotelli and Eddie G Z also provided a clear jump-off, finishing in 37.00 seconds.
Earlier on Saturday, a 1.40m class also took place for the riders in the two-star competition, in which a Z-horse also managed to advance to the podium. Silver was won by Fitsgerald's compatriot Alexander Butler and the 9-year-old stallion Bombastic des Séquoilas Z (Bamako de Muze x Saccor), out of the breeding of Elevage des Séquoias. In both the1st and2nd stages, Butler and Bombastic des Séquoilas Z kept zero on the scoreboard and with a finishing time of 25.23 seconds, they were about three-quarters of a second short of victory.
With two top 10 placings, it was also a successful weekend in Kronenberg for Belgian rider Tom Dhaeyere and the also 9-year-old mare Diana Vd Oude Heihoef Z (Douglas VDL x Nabab de Rêve - breeder: De Oude Heihoef NV). They immediately put their nose to the window on Thursday with a 7th place in the 1.40m class and a day later they confirmed this performance by securing a 9th place in another 1.40m class.
Furthermore, British rider Chloé Winchester also achieved two top 10 placings with the 10-year-old stallion Freaky Dancer Z (For Pleasure x Carthago Z), who was born with us at Zangersheide Stud. They were good for a 4th place in the 1.35m class on Friday and closed their competition on Saturday with a 10th place in the 1.40m class.
Finally, the American rider Madison Wu and the 11-year-old mare Cameron Z (Chester Z x Chacco Blue - breeder: Gestüt Lewitz) finished 5th in the 1.35m class on Friday, while the German rider Benjamin Wulschner and the 9-year-old mare COM'on Action Girl Z (Aktion Pur Z x Up to Date 8 - breeder: Hubertus Kläsener) finished 6th in the 1.40m class on the same day.