Unaki de Bornival Z adds a splash of colour to the Grand Prix podium in Maubeuge

As well as the various five-star competitions, there was once again plenty of international action to enjoy at three- and four-star level last weekend. One such event was the three-star competition in Maubeuge, France, where a Z-class horse distinguished itself in the CSI3* Grand Prix by securing a place on the podium.

The CSI3* Grand Prix at Maubeuge on Sunday afternoon marked the culmination of four days of international show jumping and saw a total of forty-eight rider-horse pairs take to the arena. The 1.55m-high basic round was technically demanding, and ultimately nine pairs managed to qualify for the jump-off. Among the contenders for victory were the Belgian rider Constant van Paesschen and the 9-year-old grey mare Unaki de Bornival Z, a daughter of Untouchable and Catoki, bred by GS Stables and D. Stalpaert. Following their clear round in the jump-off, Van Paesschen and Unaki de Bornival Z also managed to complete their jump-off flawlessly and, with a finishing time of 34.80 seconds, secured^second place, just four hundredths of a second behind the winner.

Earlier on Sunday, the riders in the four-star competition also had a 1.40m class on the programme, and there too a Z-class horse managed to excel at the top of the rankings. This was achieved by Patrick McEntee from Azerbaijan and the 13-year-old mare Lloyd’s Mury Marais Z, a daughter of Levisto Z and Kojak, bred by Catherine De Buyl Insurance. In a jump-off for which twelve pairs had qualified, McEntee and Lloyd’s Mury Marais Z raced to the finish in 41.27 seconds; this performance earned them a fine^fourth place, just as it had in Friday’s 1.40m class.

Victory in Friday’s 1.40m class was also a blue and yellow affair, thanks to the Moroccan rider Hicham Chani and the 8-year-old mare Enchilada Z, a daughter of Emerald van ’t Ruytershof and Le Vainqueur, bred by Karim Ghaibi. Chani and Enchilada Z, who had also proved the strongest in Thursday’s 1.35m class, crossed the finish line in the^second phase in 27.64 seconds, giving them a lead of well over a full second over their closest rivals. Belgian rider Yves Vanderhasselt and his 8-year-old home-bred horse Madness Vitseroel Z (Mylord Carthago Z x Eldorado van de Zeshoek – breeder: Yves Vanderhasselt) took^5th place in this class.

Also on Thursday, Vanderhasselt’s compatriot Andres Vereecke secured a Z-class victory with the 13-year-old chestnut mare Halima van het Bonte Hof Z (Hos d’O x Heartbreaker), bred by Leen Braeckmans. Vereecke and Halima van het Bonte Hof Z, who have formed a rock-solid partnership for several years now, were the overall winners of the 1.50m class, where their dazzling round in 75.89 seconds gave them a lead of well over a full second over the competition.

Furthermore, Yves’s older brother Christophe Vanderhasselt also enjoyed a successful weekend with the 9-year-old mare Axxess Pur Z (Aktion Pur Z x Sam R), who was born at breeder Elke Luyten’s stud. Vanderhasselt and Axxess Pur Z first made their mark on Thursday with a^7th place in the 1.35m class, whilst on Saturday they claimed^3rd place in the 1.45m class.

Finally, local rider Nicolas Layec also secured a podium finish with the 10-year-old gelding Georgio Louvo Z (George Z x Quintus – breeder: J. van Kilsdonk). In Friday’s 1.50m class, he took^third place after two clear rounds.