07 October '25
Good start in Oliva
© Clic Photo - Hervé Bonnaud
While in most places the outdoor season is about to come to an end, at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, Spain, last weekend the Autumn Tour 2025 kicked off! The sun, sand and sea once again provided the perfect backdrop for a new series of international weeks full of show jumping. During this opening week, which included jumping at two-star level, quite a few Z-horses also made their appearance, and they did not go unnoticed.
Among the participants who travelled to the Spanish sun was German rider Kendra Claricia Brinkop, who immediately made herself heard with her Z-horses. One of her eye-catchers was the 11-year-old chestnut gelding Surprising Dream S.H.O. Z, a son of Stakkato and Carthago Z, bred in the Netherlands by Gert-Jan Bruggink and Pia-Luise Aufrecht. Brinkop and Surprising Dream S.H.O. Z got off to an immediate flying start on Thursday with a win in the Gold 1.40m class. The duo stayed clear in both the1st and2nd phases and with a finishing time of 27.03 seconds in the 2nd phase, they were just under a full second ahead of the rest of the field of competitors. A day later in Oliva, the first Longines Ranking test was on the programme, in which they continued their strong form: with a flawless round in 61.89 seconds, they secured a handsome 4th place this time.
Furthermore, Kendra Claricia Brinkop also had a strong opening week with the 13-year-old grey gelding Dawa de Greenbay Z (Diarado x Schilling), bred by Stéphane Chantot. The experienced duo appeared twice at the start and proved their consistent form each time. In both the 1.45m main class on Thursday and the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Saturday, Brinkop and Dawa de Greenbay Z stayed clear, twice earning them a handsome 3rd place.
Another notable combination was Belgian rider Constant van Paesschen and the 9-year-old gelding Kandico de Paep Z, a breeding product of Daniel De Belie who combined the blood of Kaiser van het Lambroeck with that of Contender. Van Paesschen and Kandico de Paep Z already started their competition on Thursday with a 3rd place in the Gold 1.40m class and ensured a blue/yellow victory a day later when they won the Gold 1.40m class. In a class against the clock, they finished in 63.41 seconds, narrowly edging the competition.
Also on the podium of this Gold 1.40m class was British rider James Smith with the 10-year-old gelding Dominican 2000 Z, a son of our stallion Dominator 2000 Z and Casir Ask bred by Carl Brems and Mieke Bosma. Smith and Dominican 2000 Z crossed the finish line in 65.71 seconds, seizing 3rd place. On Sunday during the final day, they further confirmed this good form when they took 3rd place again in another Gold 1.40m class.
With three top 10 placings, it was also a successful opening week for Colombian rider Ruben Arroyave and the 13-year-old mare Valeska Z (Van Gogh x Balou du Rouet) from the breeding farm of Nadine Resche in Germany. They achieved 8th place during the first days during the Gold 1.40m class on Thursday and 10th place during the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Friday, but had their highlight during Gold 1.40m class on Sunday. A clear2nd phase in 28.28 seconds earned them a handsome2nd place there.
Finally, young Belgian rider Mathieu Guery also managed to finish in2nd place with the 10-year-old gelding Time-Breaker S Z (Toulon x Calvados - Breeder: P. Sleutels). They achieved this first place of honour during the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Friday, delivering a flawless round.