Victories for Escape Z and Van Schijndel's Olaya in 's Hertogenbosch

Last weekend, the Brabanthallen in 't Hertogenbosch were once again the setting for a new edition of The Dutch Masters – Indoor Brabant, one of the stages of the famous Rolex Grand Slam. A new blue/yellow victory during the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday was unfortunately not possible this year, but a few Zangersheide horses still managed to deliver some great performances.

During the 1.40m high opening class on Friday, there was immediately a victory for the Dutch rider Piet Raijmakers Jr. with the 11-year-old mare Van Schijndel's Olaya Z, a daughter of Ogano Sitte and Concorde who was bred in the Netherlands by F. van Och and with whom Raijmakers Jr. also won a class in Braunschweig, Germany ,the week before. The duo managed to keep it clear in both the 1st and 2nd phase and with a finish time of 29.45 seconds they were almost half a second ahead of the competition. Raijmakers was therefore very enthusiastic afterwards. “If you want to win all the classes, you have to start with the first one (laughs). Van Schijndel's Olaya Z simply has everything to win such a class. She is fast, agile, super careful and she thinks along. As a Brabander you just have to go for it in Den Bosch. And all the better if that leads to a victory.”

Later in the day, Raijmakers also brought his top mare to the start during the 1.45m class and here too they managed to ensure a top performance. In a class against the clock, the duo rushed to the finish in 56.20 seconds and this performance earned them a 4th place in the ranking this time. With that result they came just behind the French rider Simon Delestre and his 12-year-old stallion Tinka's Hero Z (Tinka's Boy x Caretino - B: Vincent Jourdan & Luc Henry), with whom he finished 5th in 's Hertogenbosch last year. Delestre and Tinka's Hero Z finished in 55.72 seconds and so just secured a place on the podium.

But also during the 1.40m class on Saturday we got a Zangersheide horse at the top of the ranking thanks to Raijmakers compatriot Harrie Smolders with the 11-year-old chestnut stallion Escape Z, a son of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Heartbreaker who was bred by Willem van Hoof and Yvonne Copal. During the 2022 edition, Smolders and Escape Z won the 1.45m class on Friday and also this year they managed to secure another victory. In a jump-off for which 16 combinations were able to qualify, they again ensured a flawless round and with a finishing time of 30.92 seconds they were more than 2.5 seconds ahead of their closest pursuer. “Escape Z is not big, but a personality really comes in when he enters the ring. You also notice that in the audience, they are all a bit crazy about him and he deserves that, ”said Smolders after his victory.

Smolders also made his debut in 's Hertogenbosch with the 13-year-old chestnut stallion Quint vh Maarlo Z (Quidam de Rêvel x Landetto - B: A. Breedveld) and this immediately resulted in a top 5 ranking. During the opening class on Friday they also managed to ensure a double clear round and with a finish time of 31.71 seconds they jumped to a 5th place in the ranking.

Two other combinations that managed to jump into the picture with 2 strong performances were the Dutch rider Willem Greve with the 8-year-old mare Candy Luck Z (Comme Il Faut x Canturo – B: Dirk Geerinckx) and his compatriot Lars Kersten with the 10-year-old stallion Boebka vh Marienshof Z (Balou du Rouet x Clinton – B: Stal Marienshof). Greve and Candy Luck Z became 4th during the 1.40m class on Saturday and 6th during the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class on Sunday, while Kersten and Boebka vh Marienshof Z jumped to a 6th place on Saturday and ended their show wit with a nice 3rd place on Sunday.

Furthermore, the Belgian rider Gilles Thomas was placed three times with his 10-year-old chestnut stallion Comdero I van Beek Z (Comme Il Faut x SIEC Vigargo – B: Guido Herrijgers). Next to a 7th place during the famous Indoor Derby on Saturday, the duo became 9th both in the 1.40m class on Friday and in the 1.45m Longines ranking class on Sunday.

Finally, Thomas' compatriot Pieter Devos also jumped twice to a 9th place in ‘s Hertogenbosch. During the 1.40m class on Saturday he placed 9th with the 8-year-old mare Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero Z – B: Stal Devos) and during the 1.50m main class with the 10-year-old mare Irona van de Viking Z (Iron Male van de Padenborre x Nissan Catango Z – B: Henk Dierendonck).