Offspring Z stallions make their mark in Aachen

With August's FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 in prospect, this year's prestigious Aachen CHIO, with its accompanying Rolex Grand Prix, was exceptionally organised as early as last weekend. Over the past few days, the world's best riders and amazons have gathered on Aachen's holy grass and treated the crowds to top-class sport at the highest level. Many of the offspring of our Z stallions also stood out with strong performances and great rankings.

Just like many other German riders, Christian Ahlmann was also present at the Mecca of equestrian sports. Ahlmann competed several horses, including the 10-year-old chestnut stallion Sheeran WL, a son of Codex One Z and Mozart des Hayettes from the breeding farm of Sofia Abramovich. Ahlmann and Sheeran WL took an immediate strong start on Friday by jumping into the prizes in the 1.45m opening class. In both the 1st and 2nd stages, the duo kept it clear, giving them a nice 6th place at the final.

On Sunday during the final day in Aachen, it was of course mainly the Rolex Grand Prix to look forward to, but earlier in the day a 1.50m class also took place for the five-star competition. In it, Ahlmann and Sheeran WL again showed their class with a place at the top of the leaderboard. The duo rushed to the finish line in 68.46 seconds in this speed class, securing 3rd place this time.

The Israeli rider Daniel Bluman and the 9-year-old grey mare Malina, a daughter of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Mylord Carthago from the breeding farm of the Bosch brothers and Team Nijhof, also enjoyed two top placings over the past few days. The duo started the competition on Friday with a 3rd place and added to that on Saturday by taking 2nd place in the standings during the 1.50m class.

Then, during the 1.55m-high Grand Prix qualifier on Friday, there was success for the blood of Tobago Z thanks to home rider Daniel Deusser and the 12-year-old stallion Otello De Guldenboom, a son of Tobago Z and Caretino from the breeding of Hugo Versnick. Deusser and Otello De Guldenboom, who have already jumped many strong results over the past weeks and months, secured a great ^5th place in this class.

Besides the strong performance of the offspring of our stallions, several Z-bred horses also managed to jump into the limelight. One of them was the 10-year-old chestnut mare Iron Dames Kaleni Jo SV Z, a daughter of Kannan and Indoctro bred in the Netherlands by Stal Verhoeven. Under the saddle of German rider Sophie Hinners, Iron Dames Kaleni Jo SV Z jumped a flawless round in the 1.50m class on Saturday, earning the duo a handsome ^3rd place overall.

Last but not least, former Olympic Champion Ben Maher also had a successful weekend with the 9-year-old gelding Maddox vh Haringvliet Z, a son of Monte Bellini and Ogano Sitte from the Hoekstra family's breeding farm. In both the 1.45m opening class on Friday and the 1.50m class on Sunday morning, they were good for ^5th place in the rankings.