03 February '26
Urville Z takes top prize in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Ocala
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Studbook
© Andrew Ryback Photography
The international competitions on US soil turned out to be a gigantic success for our blue/yellow colours of Zangersheide last weekend! Following the victories of Kayenne Z and Coriaan van Klapscheut Z on Saturday in Thermal and Wellington respectively, on Sunday the CSI2* Grand Prix of Ocala also had a Z-horse as the overall winner.
The World Equestrian Centre of Ocala was in the fifth week of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series over the past few days, with both a four-star and two-star competition on the programme. The CSI2* Grand Prix traditionally took place on Sunday afternoon and brought a total of 19 combinations to the start. The level during this 1.45m Grand Prix was particularly high, with no fewer than nine combinations completing the basic round of course designers Leopoldo Palacios and his colleague Peter Grant. Victory in this was for Irish rider Daniel Coyle and his 13-year-old new trump card Urville Z, a daughter of Ukato and Crown Z born in the Netherlands to breeder J.G.M. Meijer. Coyle and Urville Z shone earlier in the week with a2nd place in both the 1.45m class on Thursday and during the one on Friday, but so kept up the best during the closing round on Sunday. The newcomer duo did not make a single mistake in the jump-off and with a lightning-fast jump-off in 42.77 seconds they immediately added their first Grand Prix to their record of success!
Daniel Coyle: "Last week was only the first time I rode Urville Z, as I only bought her just before Christmas. Then she jumped the national tour and immediately won the Futures Prix. However, I had a bit of a hard time with her last week, because I didn't really know how to ride her. But I am really excited about her. After her victory last week, she came second twice in a Longines Ranking Test this week and we also won the Grand Prix (laughs). What I like most about her is that she always tries her best to satisfy you, something you don't always come across in a new partnership. She has a super mentality and I think that will be her biggest quality."
However, in addition to Coyle and Urville Z's victory, we also saw a second Z horse in the top five of the standings at this CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday. Belgian rider Zoe Conter took care of that with the 12-year-old mare Tombola Z, a daughter of Toulon and Dominard bred by Verschueren, Witters, Stevens and Van de Velde. Conter and Tombola Z, already good for 10th place in the 1.45m class on Thursday, finished in 45.18 seconds after a clear barrage round, placing just off the podium in 4th place.
In the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Friday, there was thus a 2nd place for Daniel Coyle and Urville Z, but the victory here was also for a Z-horse. That honour went to Coyle's compatriot Michael Duffy and the 10-year-old chestnut stallion Mister Qerly Z, a son of Mosito van het Hellehof and For Pleasure bred in Germany by CDM Gmbh. In a jump-off for which 13 out of 30 combinations qualified, Duffy and Mister Qerly Z crossed the finish line in 35.57 seconds, outpacing the competition by one hundredth of a second.
Mexican rider Maya Ines Dennis Chambon and the also 10-year-old gelding Callypso de la Hamente Z (Chellsini Z x Kashmir van Schuttershof) from the Emmanuel Wera breeding farm ensured an integral blue/yellow podium in this class by taking 3rd place. They too provided a flawless round and did so in a time of 35.78 seconds.
Another notable combination in Ocala were British rider Jessica Mendoza and her 14-year-old gelding I-Cap CL Z, the son of I'm Special de Muze and Air Jordan Z from the breeding farm of Alexander Liefsoens. Mendoza and I-Cap CL Z started their competition with a 3rd place in the 1.45m class on Thursday, while in the 1.45m class on Friday they were also good for 4th place in the rankings.
Also in these two classes, Brazilian rider Eduardo Pereira de Menezes achieved two placings the 9-year-old stallion Armenteros Z, a son of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z and Upsilon van de Heffinck bred in the Netherlands by C. Wernsen. On Thursday, that was with a nice 5th place, while on Friday they settled in 8th place in the standings. Furthermore, Eduardo Pereira de Menezes also managed to jump into the limelight with the 8-year-old chestnut stallion Excellent Sunshine Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Dutch Design - breeder: Tom De Waele). A 9th place in the 1.35m class on Wednesday was followed by a 4th place in the 1.45m class on Thursday.
Finally, Irish rider Cian O'Connor also ensured another blue/yellow podium place with the 10-year-old stallion Lambada Shake AG, a son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Spartacus TN who was born to his Dutch breeder Alex Gibertz as Alabama Shake AG Z. During the 1.40m speed class on Saturday, they ensured a flawless round, which was finally good for a nice2nd place.