Z-horses dominate in CSI5* Greenwich Grand Prix

Most of our attention last weekend was undoubtedly focused on the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at our beautiful venue in Lanaken, but in addition to this, numerous other top international competitions took place worldwide. One of the absolute highlights was the five-star competition of Greenwich in the United States, the third leg of the Major League of Showjumping. Just like in Toronto last month, the Zangersheide horses were leading there again, as they managed to completely dominate the CSI5* Grand Prix this time too!

After the successful stage in Toronto, this time the Major League of Showjumping settled in Greenwich, where the CSI5* Grand Prix was on the programme on Sunday afternoon. A total of thirty-eight combinations ventured into the 1.60m-high course run by Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge and his team, eight of whom managed to secure a ticket for the jump-off. Among them were US world number one Kent Farrington and his top 11-year-old mare Toulayna, the daughter of Toulon and Parco born to breeder Jasper Doucé as Toulayna van het Bloesemhof Z and who was honoured as winner of our Z-ranking just last Saturday. Farrington and Toulayna sped to the finish in 40.64 seconds, adding another prestigious victory to their already impressive record.

Farrington and Toulayna thus swapped guard with Israeli rider Daniel Bluman and his 10-year-old grey mare Corbie V.V. Z (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco Blue) from the breeding farm of Evelyne and Colin Van Vreckom. Bluman and Corbie V.V. Z, who were last month's winners in Toronto, made an ultimate attempt as the very last combination to knock Farrington and Toulayna off the throne. Their spectacular ride produced a finishing time of 40.67 seconds, which meant they had to settle for^second place this time.

Also in the jump-off of this CSI5* Grand Prix we saw British rider Samuel Hutton with the 11-year-old gelding Ambassador Z, a son of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z and Pablo van Berkenbroeck, bred by the trio Jos Lansink, Jack Van Mierlo and M. Bonvanie. This duo also kept all the bars neatly in the scoops and with a finishing time of 48.15 seconds they secured 6th place.

Earlier on Sunday, the riders of the five-star competition in Greenwich were already expected in the ring for a 1.45m class with Winning Round and in that class, too, some Z-horses managed to jump into the limelight. This included a podium place for American rider Jessica Springsteen and the 10-year-old stallion Cayman de Poteau Z (Cayado x Casall ASK - Breeder: PGMBH Hammes/Anita Hammes). Springsteen and Cayman de Poteau Z, who also impressed on Friday with a ^7th place in the 1.50m class, kept nicely clear in both the first round and the Winning Round and with a finishing time of 46.49 seconds they secured a handsome ^3rd place this time.

^5th place in this section then went to Brazilian rider Rodrigo Pessoa and the 11-year-old mare Dhalida (ex Dhalida Diamond Vd Krekebeke Z - Diamant de Semilly x Calvaro Z - Breeder: Robrecht & Patricia Segaert). In 40.70 seconds, Pessoa and Dhalida managed to put the winning finishing time on the scoreboard, but a mistake on the way unfortunately kept them from victory.

Last but not least, British rider Jessica Mendoza also managed to jump into the prizes twice with her Z-horses. On Friday, she finished in ^8th place in the 1.50m class of the five-star competition with the 10-year-old stallion Summerhouse(ex Guidam Sohn The Second Z), while in the 1.45m class of the two-star competition she secured ^3rd place with the 13-year-old gelding I-Cap CL Z (I'M Special de Muze x Air Jordan Z - Breeder: Alexander Liefsoens).