05 July '26
Untouched LB Z confirms top form with a podium finish in the LGCT Grand Prix of Monaco
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Studbook
© Sportfot
Christian Ahlmann and our stallion Untouched LB Z continued their strong run last weekend in glamorous Monaco. Having narrowly missed out on a podium place two weeks ago in the LGCT Grand Prix in Paris, the pair this time secured a place among the top three during the ninth leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
Against the impressive backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea, with the luxurious marina and the iconic Port Hercule as a setting, Saturday evening’s LGCT Grand Prix once again proved to be the absolute highlight of three days of top-class sport in the principality. Forty of the world’s best rider-horse pairs took their chances on the technical course, which had been designed by the renowned course designer Uliano Vezzani and his team. The Italian’s technical course demanded the utmost precision from start to finish, and ultimately nine pairs managed to qualify for the decisive jump-off. Among them were Christian Ahlmann and our 10-year-old stallion Untouched LB Z, the son of European Champion United Touch S and Cornet Obolensky. Ahlmann and Untouched LB Z, who had also produced a clear round in the Global Champions League team competition on Thursday, were the fourth pair to enter the ring in that nine-horse jump-off and, once again, they were flawless. They clocked a time of 36.18 seconds, securing a fantasticthird place.
Also securing a place in the top five of the rankings were British rider Jessica Mendoza and the 10-year-old mare Ascadina PP Z, a daughter of Asca Z and Ginus who was bred in the Netherlands by Stal Poppelaars BV. After a clear-round jump-off, they crossed the line in 42.82 seconds, ultimately securing5th place in the rankings.
However, the fastest jump-off round in this LGCT Grand Prix, with a time of 35.30 seconds, was recorded by home rider Kevin Staut and the 10-year-old chestnut mare Vida Loca Z (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Cornet Obolensky – breeder: Soc. Agricola A R.I. Edeldame). In their haste, however, they knocked a bar off the rungs, meaning they narrowly missed out on victory and had to settle for6th place.
On Friday, the programme for the riders in the five-star competition included a 1.45m class, in which two Z-class horses managed to secure a place on the podium. Silver went to former European Young Riders Champion Oliver Fletcher and the 14-year-old gelding Hello William, a son of Waldo van Dungen and Stakkato who was born at Lissava Stud Farm as Willie Wonka LVS Z. The British pair delivered a flawless performance in both thefirst andsecond phases, completing the course in a time of 23.61 seconds.
Fletcher and Hello William were closely followed by the Swiss rider Martin Fuchs and the 10-year-old gelding Falcon du Toultia Z (For Pleasure x Copin van de Broy), who was bred by Fabien Schreiber. They too completed two clear rounds, but took 23.84 seconds to finish theirsecond phase.
Finally, on the opening day on Thursday, Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten also made his mark with his now 16-year-old gelding Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines), bred by Pascal Habets. During the 1.55m second round of the Global Champions League, the successful pair jumped their way tothird place in the individual standings.