21 February '23
Cassius Clay VDV Z on the GP podium in Oliva
MEDITERRANEAN EQUESTRIAN TOUR - HERVÉ BONNAUD
In Vilamoura there was the GP victory for the Luxembourg rider Victor Bettendorf and Simolo de La Roque Z, but last weekend we also got a Zangersheide horse on the GP podium at the Mediterranean Equstrian Tour of Oliva, Spain. The 3rd place went to the French rider Roger Yves Bost with the 13-year-old grey stallion Cassius Clay VDV Z, a son of Calvino Z and Wolfgang who was bred by George Van De Velden and who won in 2019 in Lanaken the Sires Of The World in 2019 under the saddle of the Dutch rider Rob Heiligers.
Bost and Cassius Clay VDV Z, who is also approved for Studbook Zangersheide, already jumped to a 4th place during the 1.45m high GP Qualifier on Thursday and were one of the 12 combinations that were qualified for the jump-off in the CSI3* GP. They again kept it clear and with this performance they secured a place on the podium.
Earlier on Sunday, a 1.45m Longines Ranking class took place in Oliva, in which a few Zangersheide horses also made themselves heard. For example, there was a 5th place for the Belgian rider Stijn Timmerman with the 9-year-old mare Klaartje Z (Kannan x Flipper d'Elle – B: Ties Raijmakers). Timmerman and Klaartje Z became already 10th during the Longines Ranking class on Friday and also managed to keep it clear twice this time.
The 6th place went to Timmerman's compatriot Andres Vereecke with the 10-year-old mare Halima van het Bonte Hof Z (Hos d'O x Heartbreaker – B: Leen Braeckmans) and also for this duo it was already the second time that they were placed. The day before they became 4th during the 1.45m Longines Ranking class.
Finally, it was also a top weekend for the young Belgian rider Seppe Wouters with his 7-year-old gelding Devino Vd Weretherbach Z, a son of De Flor 111 Z and Calvin Z who was bred by Heinz Lentz. Wouters and Devino Vd Weretherbach Z appeared three times at the start during a 1.40m class and jumped twice to a 3rd place and once to a 5th place.