08 July '26
The comic strip characters Brimbelles Z and Maximus Cen D’Elixir Z are the winners of the 2026 French Zangersheide Foal Championship
/
Zangersheide Foal Championship / STX Cyclus / STX Gouden Laars / Bixie Jumping
© Paardenfotograaf
Two weeks after the foal championship in Exloo, the Netherlands, all eyes were on the French edition of the 2026 Zangersheide Foal Championship last Saturday. As is traditional, the venue was the Pôle international du Cheval Longines equestrian centre in Deauville. From 10.30 am, a good number of foals entered the arena before our expert judging panel, which on this occasion consisted of Stijn van Campenhout and Tom Lemmens. The foals were meticulously assessed against the familiar criteria: conformation, movement, type, overall impression and dam line.
Mare foals
Just as at the championship in Exloo, it was the filly foals that were expected first in the ring for this 2026 edition in Deauville. The foal that made the greatest impression was Comicstrip Brimbelles Z, bred by Christel and Guy Schumacher of Haras des Brimbelles. Comicstrip Brimbelles Z is a daughter of Comilfo Plus Z out of the Hickstead mare Astuce Du Pas, and is therefore a half-sister to Abdel Saïd’s Grand Prix mare Quaker Brimbelles Z (Quicksilver St. Simeon).
The silver in this series for mares went to Balia De Cy Z, a daughter of Brunetti Z and Stolypso, born at the stud of breeder Pierre Cécille. Her dam, Suzette, is a half-sister to the stallion Eldorado 164 (Eldorado van de Zeshoek), who is currently competing at 1.50m level with the German rider Tom Schewe.
Third place went to the foal Jellyfish Brimbelles Z, which brings us back to another breeding product from Christel and Guy Schumacher. Jellyfish Brimbelles Z is a daughter of Jenson van ’t Meulenhof out of the mare Erythrea vd Schrijberg (Toulon) and is therefore a half-sister to the Grand Prix horses Atome Z (Amadeus Z), Alternext Z (Amadeus Z) and Azote Brimbelles Z (Amadeus Z).
Colt foals
In the afternoon, it was the turn of the colt foals to be presented to the judging panel, and with twenty-two foals appearing in the ring, this session was particularly well attended. Victory went to the foal Maximus Cen D’Elixir Z, a son of Mad Max 2G Z and Nabab de Rêve, bred by Vieille Judicaël EI. He won over the judges with his natural charisma, light-footedness and suppleness.
The foal Darwin du Bidou Z tooksecond place in this series for colt foals. Darwin du Bidou Z is a son of Ducati Van Schuttershof and Atlantys by Wisbecq and was bred by Blin Charles Hubert. He too impressed with his modern conformation, good canter and balanced movement.
Finally,third place went to Ultimus Grillonne Z, who was bred by SASU Ecurie de la Grillonne. Ultimus Grillonne Z is a son of the reigning European Champion United Touch S out of the mare Raia d’Helby (Fergar Mail). She herself competed at the very highest level under the saddle of riders Adrienne Sternlicht and Charlotte Bettendorf.