Z-horses shine in Doha CSI5* Grand Prix

With the seasonal start of the Longines Global Champions Tour in early March in sight, jumping at the very highest level was already taking place in the Qatari capital Doha last weekend. The setting was traditionally the magnificent Al Shaqab arena, where this time the competition of H.H. Amir's Sword 2026 was on the programme. It turned out to be another particularly successful weekend for our blue/yellow colours of Zangersheide, with no fewer than three horses securing top placings at the CSI5* Grand Prix.

The CSI5* Grand Prix on Friday evening formed the absolute highlight of the weekend in Doha and was run over two rounds with a separate jump-off on top. The level was truly sky-high, as of the forty-four combinations at the start, just nine managed to complete both the first and second rounds. One of the nine combinations who managed to advance to the decisive jump-off was Saudi rider Khaled Almobty and his 11-year-old mare Diana du Plevau Z, a daughter of our stallion Dieu Merci Van T&L Z and Kashmir van Schuttershof from the breeding farm of Marc Palm. Almobty and Diana du Plevau Z, who impressed at the two World Cups in Riyadh back in December, managed to continue the good line in the jump-off and with a whirlwind round in 37.45 seconds they jumped to a fantastic^2nd place.

But the ^3rd place on the podium at this Grand Prix was also taken by a Z-horse thanks to Belgian rider Pieter Devos and his home-bred mare Casual DV Z, an 11-year-old daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Cicero Z. Devos and Casual DV Z also produced a clear round in the jump-off, finishing in 39.20 seconds.

Just off the podium stranded Christian Ahlmann with our 10-year-old stallion Untouched LB, the impressively jumping son of United Touch S and Cornet Obolensky who was born in Germany to breeders Lena Bieler and Thomas Verhufen. Ahlmann and Untouched LB, already good for ^8th place in the 1.50m main class on Wednesday, crossed the finish line in 39.24 seconds after a flawless jump-off.

Also in the jump-off we saw French rider Ines Joly with her 11-year-old stallion Crack d'Aiguilly Z, a breeding product of Olivier Perreau who combined the blood of Comme Il Faut with that of Nabab de Rêve. Joly and Crack d'Aiguilly Z, who had an excellent start to their competition on Wednesday with a ^4th place in the 1.50m main class, ran into four penalties in the jump-off, which gave them ^7th place in the final ranking.

In addition, Ines Joly also had a successful weekend in Doha with the 9-year-old gelding Come On Z, also a son of Comme Il Faut and combined with the blood of VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P.. Joly and Come On Z made their first appearance on Wednesday with a ^9th place in the 1.40m opening class, but experienced their highlight during the 1.50m class on Saturday afternoon. With a strong and clear round, they jumped to a great ^3rd place.

Finally, Joly's compatriot Megane Moissonnier also managed to jump into the prizes twice with the 10-year-old gelding Kandoo Z (Kannan x Level Z - breeder: Hilary Parren). They opened with ^7th place in the 1.40m opening class on Wednesday, before claiming ^4th place in the 1.45m class a day later.