Zia Mia De La Bonne Z on the Grand Prix podium in Lisbon

While no Nations Cup was on the programme at the hallowed turf of Aachen last weekend, two Nations Cups were then held at three-star level. One took place in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, where a Z-horse managed to shine with a place on the podium during the CSIO3* Grand Prix.

The CSIO3* Grand Prix was the finale of the international weekend in Lisbon on Sunday afternoon and brought no fewer than fifty-seven combinations to the start. The 1.50m-high basic round proved to be a tough challenge, as only five combinations managed to secure a place in the decisive jump-off. One of those five contenders were Frenchman Edouard Chauvet and 14-year-old chestnut mare Zia Mia De La Bonne Z, a daughter of Zandor Z and Voltaire from the breeding farm of Elise Bonnaud in France. Chauvet and Zia Mia De La Bonne Z, who already achieved ^5th place in the 1.40m class on Friday, also managed to keep their cool in the jump-off and secured a handsome^2nd place with a finishing time of 39.42 seconds.

Also qualifying for the jump-off was American rider Kady Abrahamson and the 14-year-old grey gelding Coquelicot vh Heuvelland Z, a breeding product of Frans Nollet who combined the blood of Catoki with that of Cassini II. They saw a fault in the jump-off and with a finishing time of 43.63 seconds they finished just off the podium in ^4th place. Brazilian Pedro Veniss and his 15-year-old chestnut gelding Nimrod de Muze Imperio Egipcio (ex Nimrod de Muze Z - Nabab de Rêve x Tinka's Boy - breeder: Eric Polfliet) took ^5th place in this Grand Prix.

Finally, with two top-10 finishes, Lisbon was also a successful competition for French rider Alix Ragot and the 9-year-old mare Serafina Dbh Z (Stakkato Gold x Ramiro Z - Breeder: De Bruyn). They started their competition on Friday with a ^4th place in the 1.35m class and secured another ^6th place in the 1.45m class a day later with 'Winning Round'.