Axxes Pur Z steals the show in Lier

While on Dutch soil last weekend people could enjoy the four-star competition of Jumping Indoor Maastricht, in the past few days there was also jumping at international level again at home. At the Hazebroek family's Azelhof in Lier, the two-week Autumn Tour started with a Z-level horse claiming most of the attention.

The star was the 8-year-old mare Axxess Pur Z (Aktion Pur Z x Sam R), a breeding product of Elke Luyten, who was in excellent form throughout the weekend under the saddle of Christophe Vanderhasselt. On Thursday during the opening day they immediately made a strong entrance with an 8^th place in the 1.40m class, but the first real outlier of the weekend followed on Friday. In the 1.45m Longines Ranking class, Vanderhasselt and Axxes Pur Z stayed clear in the basic round, putting them among the 15 combinations that qualified for the ultimate jump-off. In it, they recorded a strong finishing time of 30.20 seconds, good for 2^nd place at exactly a quarter of a second from victory. A performance with which they immediately made their mark.

However, the real crowning glory followed on Sunday at the CSI2* Grand Prix. There, they were among the eleven duos who managed to flawlessly complete the basic round set by course designer Henk Linders and his team, thereby securing a ticket for the jump-off. In that decisive round, Vanderhasselt and Axxess Pur Z once again showed their class: with a powerful but controlled ride they finished in 40.45 seconds, good for a glorious victory with more than half a second ahead of the rest of the field.

On Saturday evening in Lier there was also a blue/yellow victory. In the 1.40m Final, it was Dutch rider Bart Lips who jumped to victory with the 13-year-old gelding Davinci Z, a son of Dutch Capitol and St. Ludwig's Aquilino who was bred in the Netherlands by De Claesstraete Stables. Lips and Davinci Z, who were also good for 4^th place in the 1.35m class on Thursday during the opening day, were among the group of 16 combinations who managed to advance to the jump-off. They finished in a fantastic time of 34.23 seconds, beating the competition by just under two full seconds.

Bart Lips also managed to attract attention in Lier with the 10-year-old gelding Ding Dong Van Overis Z, a son of Diamant de Semilly and Chellano Z bred by Gerald Lenaerts and Sigried Gielen of Studfarm Overis. In the 1.40m main class on Thursday, Lips and Ding Dong Van Overis Z neatly kept all the bars in the scoops, giving them 6^th place overall.

With two top 10 placings, it was also a successful weekend in Lier for Belgian rider Simon Prouvé and the also 10-year-old gelding Bobby Prova Z, a breeding product of the Prouvé family who combined the blood of Billy Congo with that of Andiamo Vh Kapelhof Z. They started their competition on Thursday with an 8^th place in the 1.35m class, while a day later they claimed a podium place. During the 1.40m class, they had it flawless in both the 1^st and 2^nd phases, seizing 3^rd place.

Besides the 2^nd place of Christophe Vanderhasselt and Axxess Pur Z, however, we also saw a second Z-horse shine on the podium during the Longines Ranking class on Friday. Indeed, 3^rd place went to Vanderhasselt's compatriot Jules Denutte and the 11-year-old chestnut mare I'am Star du Long Chene Z, a daughter of I Am Moerhoeve's Star and Ohio van de Padenborre from the breeding farm of Eddy Desmecht. They too managed to ensure a clear jump-off, but needed 31.96 seconds to complete their round.

Just next to the podium stranded British rider Joseph Trunkfield and the 8-year-old chestnut gelding Corvette vh Reukenis Z (Cicero Z x Corland VDL - Breeder: Stal Reukenis BVBA). They too did not make a fault twice, reaching the finishing line in 32.41 seconds.

Finally, there was also a 4^th place for German rider Kendra Claricia Brinkop and the 13-year-old mare Dawa de Greenbay Z (Diarado x Schilling, bred by Stephane Chantot). They achieved this 4^th place during the 1.40m class on Thursday, where they scored a flawless round.