Top performance for Applebridge Tag Z in Sharjah Grand Prix Qualifier

As in recent weeks, there was once again international show jumping to be enjoyed in the United Arab Emirates last weekend. A week after the CSIO4* Nations Cup, the Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club had a three-star competition on the programme this time, where there was once again plenty of spectacle. Christian Ahlmann was also present there and, together with our 9-year-old stallion Applebridge Tag Z, provided a real top performance!

Christian Ahlmann has already achieved some strong results over the past few weeks in the oil state and he continued his good run last weekend! On Saturday evening, for example, he ensured a resounding victory with our 9-year-old stallion Applebridge Tag Z, a son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and VDL Corland who was born to breeders Evert and Ilse van Gorp. During the 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier, Ahlmann and Applebridge Tag Z kept it neatly clear in both the^1st and^2nd phases and with a finishing time of 32.66 seconds they wrote their first international victory on their record with a lot of flair!

^2nd place in this main class on Saturday was also taken by a Z horse thanks to Ahlmann's compatriot Sophie Hinners and the 12-year-old mare Come Away Flamingo Z, a daughter of Cardento VDL and Dollar du Murier bred in France by Alexandra Rantet. Hinners and Come Away Flamingo Z, also in fine form in the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks, also provided a double clear performance, but needed 33.12 seconds to finish their^2nd phase successfully.

On Friday during the opening day, a 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier was also on the programme in Sharjah, in which victory also coloured blue and yellow. This time it was Belgian rider Constant van Paesschen who came out strongest with the also 12-year-old mare Kannavara Z, a daughter of Kannan and Contender from the breeding farm of Davy Blyau. In a class against the clock, van Paesschen and Kannavara Z raced convincingly to the finish in 62.88 seconds, putting them almost one and a half seconds ahead of the rest of the field of competitors.

Then, in the CSI3* Grand Prix on Sunday, van Paesschen scored another podium place with the 9-year-old grey mare Unaki de Bornival Z, a daughter of Untouchable and Catoki bred by GS Stables and D. Stalpaert. In a jump-off for which six out of forty combinations qualified, van Paesschen and Unaki de Bornival Z again provided a flawless round, which finally earned them a nice^2nd place.

Finally, Egyptian rider Amr Gamal Mohamed also recorded another victory with the 14-year-old stallion Zazou Z, a son of Zandor Z and Guidam bred in the Netherlands by Schoof and Vullers. Gamal Mohamed and Zazou Z were the winners of the 1.35m morning class on Saturday, where they were more than half a second ahead of their closest pursuer with a clear^2nd phase in 21.16 seconds.