Z-horses dominate in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Lier

After the various show jumping competitions in Spain had been in full swing over the past few weeks, the new outdoor season also got under way on Belgian soil last weekend. The Hazebroek family in the Azelhof in Lier, where a three-week show jumping tour is on the programme, was the starting point. The opening week was an immediate success for our blue/yellow colours, with the CSI2* Grand Prix dominated by the Z-horses.

The CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon was of course the absolute highlight of this first week, bringing a total of fifty-nine combinations to the start. The 1.45m high basic round by course designer Luc Verboven and his team presented many challenges and in the end nine combinations managed to qualify for the jump-off. The star performer was Belgian rider Dirk Demeersman and his 10-year-old breeding product Cote d'Or Z, a son of Carambole out of his former Grand Prix mare Daimonds Billy (Diamant de Semilly). In the jump-off, Demeersman and Cote d'Or Z managed to repeat their flawless performance from the basic round and with a finishing time of 38.32 seconds, they outclassed the competition by just under half a second.

But the silver in this CSI2* Grand Prix was also seized by a Z-horse thanks to Demeersman's compatriot Niels Fockaert and the 12-year-old chestnut stallion Bliksem Mc Queen 111 Z, a son of Bamako de Muze and Lord Z bred by the Theeuwes family of Stud 111. Fockaert and Bliksem Mc Queen 111 Z also provided a clear jump-off, but needed 38.78 seconds to complete their round.

On Friday afternoon in Lier it was looking forward to the first Longines Ranking class of the weekend and in this one too it was a Z-horse that took the top prize. Victory went to Italian rider Giampiero Garofalo and the 12-year-old mare Kadessa Z, a daughter of Kannan and Harley VDL bred in the Netherlands by J.A.M. Bocken. In a jump-off for which no fewer than 19 combinations qualified, Garofalo and Kadessa Z raced to the finish in 42.82 seconds, narrowly edging the competition.

In the 1.40m class on Thursday, French rider Gregory Cottard also took a blue/yellow victory with the 10-year-old mare Lavanoche T&L Z, a breeding product of Guy Vandeven who combined the blood of Lavallino Ter Klomp with that of Bentley van de Heffinck. In a class against the clock, Cottard and Lavanoche T&L Z managed to put a time of 64.65 seconds on the scoreboard, more than two full seconds ahead of the rest of the field of competitors.

Then the bronze in this Grand Prix Qualifier was up to Dutch rider Bart Lips and the 14-year-old gelding Davinci Z (Dutch Capitor x St. Ludwig's Aquilino - breeder: De Claesstraete Stables). They too provided a flawless round, crossing the finish line in 67.97 seconds.

On Saturday, German rider Benjamin Wulschner signed for another win with the 9-year-old mare Com'On Action Girl Z (Aktion Pur Z x Up to Date 8), who was born in Germany to breeder Hubertus Klasener. Wulschner and Com'On Action Girl Z were the best in the 1.35m class, where they also had a comfortable lead over the competition with a clear round in 71.40 seconds.

Furthermore, Belgian rider Anthony Wellens also had a successful weekend with the also 9-year-old gelding Gino du Domaine Z (George Z x Quidam de Rêvel - breeder: Luc De Brauwer). They made a first appearance on Thursday with ^8th place during the 1.40m Grand Prix Qualifier and confirmed this performance on Sunday by claiming ^6th place during the 1.40m class.

Last but not least, there was also success for the blood of our stallion Tobago Z thanks to Norwegian rider Andreas Jensen and the 10-year-old mare Twinkle Star Z (Tobago Z x Darco - breeder: Sabrina Van Den Borre). In both the 1.35m class on Saturday and Sunday, Jensen and Twinkle Star Z secured ^7th place.