Podium place for Verdi Van 't Laerhof Z in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Busto Arsizio

On Italian soil last weekend, not only could people enjoy the third week of the Toscana Tour at the Arezzo Equestrian Centre, there was also three days of international action in the north of the country in Busto Arsizio. The CSI3* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon there undoubtedly formed the highlight of the weekend, including a podium finish for a Z-horse.

Upwards of sixty combinations filled the starting list of this CSI3* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon in Busto Arsizio, in which the obstacles were at a height of 1.55m. Of these sixty contenders, 11 eventually managed to get through the basic round unscathed and thus qualify for the jump-off. These included Swiss rider Bryan Smits and the 11-year-old chestnut stallion Verdi Van 't Laerhof Z, a son of former world champion Vigo d'Arsouilles and Heartbreaker who was born to breeder Hans Van Laer. In the jump-off, Smits and Verdi Van 't Laerhof Z managed to repeat that flawless performance from the basic round, and with finishing times of 39.95 seconds, they secured a handsome^2nd place.

What fell just short during the CSI3* Grand Prix, succeeded in the 1.50m main class on Friday afternoon. It was Polish rider Adam Grzegorzewski who secured a blue/yellow victory with the 10-year-old chestnut stallion Caramoon Red Z, a son of Exciting and Sandro Boy bred in Germany by Cindy Schulze. Grzegorzewski and Caramooon Red Z kept cleanly clear in both the^1st and^2nd phases and a finishing time of 27.31 seconds gave them a lead of over half a second over their closest pursuers.

Then for Grzegorzewski's compatriot Hubert Polowczyk Jr. and the 14-year-old grey stallion M.Blue's Boy Z (Mr. Blue x PKZ Contact van de Heffinck - breeder: Hans Callaert & Adelheid Spruyt) there was another ^5th place in this 1.50m class. It took them 28.76 seconds to complete their^2nd phase.