Z-horses dominate in CSI5* World Cup Grand Prix of Sjarjah

In the Middle East, the past weekend included looking forward to the Al Shaqab CHI in the Qatari capital Doha, but in the United Arab Emirates, the past few days also saw competition at the very highest level once again. The place to be again was the Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, where the H.H. Sharjah Ruler Cup was on the programme from Friday to Sunday. The highlight of the weekend was the CSI5* World Cup Grand Prix, which was completely dominated by two Z-horses with gold and silver.

The CSI5* World Cup Grand Prix was the absolute apotheosis of the weekend on Sunday evening and brought a total of 40 combinations to the start. Eleven of them managed to ensure a flawless performance in the first round to advance to the second and decisive round. Starring in that second round was Belgian rider Abdel Saïd and the 11-year-old gelding Quaker Brimbelles Z, a son of Quicksilver St. Simeon and Hickstead bred in France by Haras des Brimbelles. Saïd and Quaker Brimbelles Z, who were still the overall winners in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Al Ain at the end of December, jumped to a convincing finishing time of 50.18 seconds in the second round, adding another impressive victory to their record.

But the silver in this closing round of the weekend was also seized by a Z horse thanks to German rider Sophie Hinners and the 10-year-old mare Iron Dames Kaleni Jo SV Z, a daughter of Kannan and Indoctro from the breeding farm of Stal Verhoeven in the Netherlands. Hinners and Iron Dames Kaleni Jo SV Z also ensured two clear rounds, managing to stop the clock in 51.62 seconds in the decisive round.

Furthermore, Hinners also secured a victory in Sjarjah with 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 were the winners of the 1.45m class on Friday, where they narrowly edged the competition with a clear^2nd phase in 26.87 seconds. During the final day on Sunday, they additionally confirmed this performance by claiming ^10th place during the 1.50m class.

On Saturday afternoon, however, there was also a blue/yellow victory to note. In the 1.55m main class, it was Brazilian rider João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes De Lima who took the top prize with the 12-year-old gelding Kenzo Quality Z, a son of Kannan and Con Air who was born to breeder Koen Terryn of Quality Stud. Castro Aguiar Gomes De Lima and Kenzo Quality Z were the only combination in the five-strong jump-off that managed to keep it clear again, writing this main class on their record with great flair.

Also in this 1.55m class on Saturday, British rider Tim Gredley was among the group of barragists with the 10-year-old mare Vuitton of Picobello Z (Vagabond de la Pomme x PKZ Contact van de Heffinck - breeder: Picobello Horses). They saw one bar roll out of the scoops in that jump-off, giving them final ^4th place in the standings.

Another notable combination in Sharjah were Italian rider Simone Coata and the 9-year-old gelding Dart Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Cartoon Z) from breeder Paul Schockemöhle. Coata and Dart Z made their first appearance on Friday with a ^6th place in the 1.45m class, while on Sunday they secured another ^7th place in the 1.50m class.

Finally, there were also two blue/yellow podium places on Friday during the 1.40m class of the two-star competition. Thus silver was for Swedish rider Antonia Pettersson Häggström with the 9-year-old stallion Azur Z (Asca Z x Kashmir van Schuttershof - breeder: Sport Horses BVBA As) and bronze for home rider Sheikh Khalid Sultan Khalid Sultan Alqassimi with the 14-year-old stallion Chac - Lisco Z (Chacco Blue x Jalisco B - breeder: Guy De Winne).