02 November '26
Z-horses dominate the LGCT Grand Prix in Rabat
/
Studbook
© Longines Global Champions Tour
The 2026 season of the Longines Global Champions Tour came to a particularly spectacular conclusion last weekend in Rabat. During the fifteenth and final leg of the season, the Moroccan capital once again hosted top-level competition, culminating in the LGCT Grand Prix. It was yet another fantastic experience for our blue and yellow Zangersheide colours, as it was once again the Z-horses that stole the show during this final leg.
Against the magnificent backdrop of the Moroccan capital, a sold-out crowd witnessed a thrilling finale to a season that had taken the world’s best show jumpers across several continents, to iconic cities and some of the most spectacular venues in the world of international sport. This final LGCT Grand Prix of the season traditionally featured forty top combinations at the start, nine of whom successfully completed the 1.60m-high basic course designed by Uliano Vezzani and his team. After a thrilling contest, it was the Swedish rider Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli who claimed the top prize with the 12-year-old stallion Iron Dames Calvino II de Nyze Z, a son of Calvaro F.C. and Heartbreaker, bred by Danny Nijs. Augustsson Zanotelli and Iron Dames Calvino de Nyze Z, who had already securedsecond place on Friday during the individual qualifier for this LGCT Grand Prix, were given the honour of opening the nine-horse jump-off and did so in style straight away. The pair opted for a neat, polished and excellent ride, and with a flawless round in 47.91 seconds, they immediately set a time that would not be beaten.
Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli: "I’m absolutely overwhelmed with emotion. This is more than I could ever have expected today. I’m so grateful to my horse, the whole team, and Debora and the Iron Dames for giving me the chance to ride this fantastic horse. It’s been a long time since I last won a five-star Grand Prix, and to be able to do so again here in Rabat is truly special.”
Furthermore, Christian Ahlmann once again delivered a fantastic performance at this final LGCT Grand Prix of the season with our 10-year-old stallion Untouched LB Z, the son of European Champion Untied Touch S and Cornet Obolensky, who was bred in Germany by Lena Bieler. Ahlmann and Untouched LB Z, who have had a super season in the Longines Global Champions Tour, clocked the fastest finishing time of 46.24 seconds, but a small fault along the way ultimately cost them the victory and pushed them down tothird place in the standings. This bronze podium finish did, however, ensure that Ahlmann securedsecond place in the final standings.
Christian Ahlmann: “I’m absolutely delighted. It means a lot to me. To be honest, Untouched has done the lion’s share of the work, as much as 90% throughout the season. He’s still a fairly young horse and has developed tremendously from competition to competition. For us, it was a process of building things up step by step, finding our rhythm and overcoming the necessary challenges along the way. I’m absolutely delighted with what we’ve achieved.”
Just off the podium were Irish rider Harry Allen and the 12-year-old gelding Edison de Hus, which brings us to a descendant of HH Conrad Z. Allen and the horse bred by Haras de Hus in France also picked up four penalty points in the jump-off, completing the course in a time of 48.08 seconds.
Before the start of this LGCT Grand Prix, the five-star competition programme also featured a 1.45m class, and there too we saw a Z-horse shine in the top three of the rankings. This was achieved by British rider Oliver Fletcher and his 13-year-old gelding Hello William, a son of Waldo van Dungen and Stakkato, who was born in Ireland at Lissava Stud Farm as Willie Wonka LVS Z. Fletcher and Hello William, who had secured bronze in the CSI3* Grand Prix in Birmingham just last month, raced to the finish line in this speed class in 60.66 seconds, which once again earned themthird place.
During Saturday’s 1.50m class, Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten once again caught the eye with his now 16-year-old top horse Beauville Z N.O.P., the son of Bustique and Jumpy des Fontaines, bred by Pascal Habets. In a jump-off for which eleven pairs qualified, they finished in 40.51 seconds after a clear round, ultimately securingsixth place.
Also in this class, the Belgian rider Annelies Vorsselmans was among the prize-winners with her 11-year-old mare C. Kulottie W Z, the daughter of Comme Il Faut and Guidam, bred by P.H.B.M. Van Wegen. Vorsselmans and C. Kulottie W Z also managed to keep their cool, and a finishing time of 42.30 seconds secured them6th place, just as they had in the 1.45m class earlier in the day.
During that 1.45m class on Friday, the Monegasque rider Inigo Lopez de la Osa Franco secured a podium place with the 10-year-old mare Desiree E Z, a horse bred by Patrick Franssen that combined the bloodlines of Dominator 2000 Z with those of Upsilon van de Heffinck. With a dazzling round in 60.85 seconds, Lopez de la Osa Franco and Desiree E Z claimedthird place in the standings.
Last but not least, Vorsselmans’ compatriot Gudrun Patteet also made her mark twice with the 9-year-old gelding Baron – RR Z, the son of Bamako de Muze and Diamant de Semilly from the stud farm of Raf Van De Perre and Robin Denijs. Following a strong start on Friday with a5th place in the individual 1.55m class of the Global Champions League, she went on to secure7th place in the 1.45m speed class on Sunday.