Iron Women’s Kaleni Jo leads Z to victory in Valkenswaard

After a week’s break, international show jumping was back on the programme last weekend at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard. The Summer Showcase once again featured competitions at both four- and two-star levels, and the Z-class horses once again made a strong impression. The undisputed star of the weekend was the chestnut mare Iron Dames Kaleni Jo, who, together with German rider Sophie Hinners, secured three impressive top placings.

From Friday through to Sunday, the home base of Jan Tops and his wife Edwina Tops-Alexander once again provided the backdrop for many wonderful moments and show jumping of the very highest standard. The undisputed stars of the weekend were, without a doubt, Sophie Hinners and her 10-year-old chestnut mare Iron Dames Kaleni Jo, a daughter of Kannan and Indoctro who was given the birth name Kaleni Jo SV Z at Stal Verhoeven in the Netherlands. Hinners and Iron Dames Kaleni Jo immediately made their mark during the first two days of competition with a^2nd place in the 1.50m class on Friday and a^4th place in Saturday’s class, but saved their strongest performance for the closing CSI4* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. There, the successful pair produced a clear-round in the first round, securing their place in the jump-off as one of the twelve combinations. Starting as the tenth pair, they once again delivered a flawless performance in the jump-off and, with a dazzling round in 43.44 seconds, they ultimately finished more than one and a half seconds ahead of their closest rivals.

Sophie Hinners: “I’m absolutely delighted! Kaleni Jo keeps making progress every time she steps into the ring, and today she’s shown just how much potential she has. She’s naturally very cautious, but she’s also gaining more and more confidence. Winning a Grand Prix like this is a special moment and a real reward for everyone involved. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Deborah Mayer and the whole Iron Dames team for their faith in me and for giving me the chance to ride such a wonderful horse. Their support means the world to me; it’s incredibly motivating to be part of a team that invests so much in both the horses and the riders."

The silver in this CSI4* Grand Prix also went to a Z-class horse. This was achieved by local rider Edwina Tops-Alexander with her 11-year-old chestnut mare Caetlin van de Heffinck Z, a daughter of Chacco Blue and Cabrio Z, bred by the Hamerlinck family at Stoeterij van de Heffinck. Tops-Alexander and Caetlin van de Heffinck Z were the first pair to start in the jump-off and immediately set a fast target time. With a clear round in 45.18 seconds, this seemed for a long time to be enough for victory, but after Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Kaleni Jo went well under that time, they ultimately had to settle for second place.

In the two-star competition, a number of Z-class horses also managed to make a name for themselves, including the 13-year-old chestnut stallion Enola Gay Of Two Notes Z, a son of Emerald van ’t Ruytershof and Chin Chin, bred by Toby Huys. Enola Gay Of Two Notes Z competed under the saddle of Dutch rider Kevin Jochems, and together they secured^second place on Friday in the 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier.

Also on Friday, Inigo Lopez de Osa Franco from Monaco made a name for himself with the 10-year-old mare Desiree E Z, a daughter of Dominator 2000 Z and Upsilon van de Heffinck, bred by Patrick Franssen. They competed in the 1.40m class, where they took^fourth place after two clear rounds.

On Saturday, Brazilian rider Eduardo Pereira de Menezes enjoyed success with the 9-year-old gelding Armenteros Z, a C. Wernsen-bred horse combining the bloodlines of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Upsilon van de Heffinck. In the 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier, they produced a flawless clear round, finishing in^5th place.

Last but not least, Dutch rider Siebe Leemans also achieved a fine result with the 9-year-old grey mare Pippa Blue Z (Plot Blue x Calvados Z – breeder: Ann Van Heyst). They made a name for themselves in Sunday’s 1.40m class, where they secured third place after a flawless round.