Keeneland on the Grand Prix stage in Traverse City

On European soil last weekend, many eyes were on the Longines Global Champions Tour in Riesenbeck, Germany, but there was also international action at the very highest level on the other side of the big ocean. The setting was the Flintfield Horse Park in Williamsburg, which hosts the 13-week Travers City Horse Shows. Moreover, last weekend was also about the first World Cup Qualifier in the North American League and in it there was a starring role for a Z horse.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup on Sunday afternoon was undoubtedly the absolute highlight of the weekend in Traverse City, bringing a total of thirty-four top combinations from North America and beyond to the start. For his ^97th World Cup, Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge had once again laid out a beautiful course, with seven combinations ensuring a clear round. One of them was American rider Spencer Smith and the 12-year-old grey gelding Keeneland, a son of Carmena Z and Quattro who was born in the Netherlands to breeder Anja Aerts as Cadeau Z. Smith and Keeneland entered the ring again as the second combination in that jump-off and managed to keep their cool this time too. In doing so, they crossed the finish line in 41.00 seconds, which finally earned them^2nd place in the standings.

However, Keeneland was not the only Z-horse that managed to qualify for the jump-off during this World Cup Qualifier. Similarly, Portuguese rider Luis Sabino Gonçalves ensured a clear round with the 11-year-old gelding Scoop de Septon Z (Hunter Scendro x Echo van 't Spieveld) from the breeding of Elevage de Septon. Gonçalves and Scoop de Septon Z ran into four penalties in that jump-off, stranding just off the podium in ^4th place. Israeli rider Daniel Bluman and the 10-year-old grey mare Corbie V.V. (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco Blue) owned by breeders Evelyne and Colin Van Vreckom followed in ^6th place here.

Qualification for this Wold Cup Qualifier took place on Friday afternoon and in it victory coloured blue and yellow. It was Belgian rider Abdel Saïd who became the overall winner with the 10-year-old gelding Qaker Brimbelles Z, a son of Quicksilver St Simeon and Hickstead bred in France by Hars Des Brimbelles. In a jump-off for which seven combinations also managed to qualify, they sped to the finish line in 39.77 seconds, almost two full seconds ahead of the competition.

But ^3rd place in this qualifier was also taken by a Z-horse thanks to Daniel Bluman and the 11-year-old gelding Hummer Z (Harley VDL x Hemmingway - Breeder: P.H.A.E. Bocken). They too managed to complete their barrage round, but needed 42.23 seconds to reach the finishing line.