Grand Prix glory for Kenzo Quality Z at Oliva

As in the past few weeks, there was some serious show jumping on Spanish soil last week, with international action in both Oliva and Valencia. At Oliva's Mediterranean Equestrian Tour, the second part of the Autumn Tour 2025 concluded with a real three-star competition, where it was a Z-horse that managed to claim the leading role in the CSI3* Grand Prix.

A total of fifty-three combinations filled the starting list on Sunday afternoon at the Oliva Nova Arena for this closing round of the weekend, in which the obstacles were at a height of 1.50m. German coursedesigner Christian Wiegand and his team had once again mapped out a masterful round. Of these fifty-three contenders, in the end nine managed to secure a ticket for the decisive jump-off. One of those nine were Brazilian rider João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes De Lima and the 11-year-old gelding Kenzo Quality Z, a son of Kannan and Con Air born to breeder Koen Terryn of Quality Stud. João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes De Lima and Kenzo Quality Z also managed to keep their cool in the jump-off and with a flawless round in 44.89 seconds, they were eighteen hundredths of a second ahead of the rest of the field of competitors.

João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes De Lima: "With Kenzo I jumped the Nations Cups in Sankt Gallen and Falsterbo and we were also in the Brazilian team at the Stephex Masters. I think we are getting better and better. He is a great horse and has a really good mentality. He does his best and always gives his best. Today I was very happy with his performance!"

Two days earlier there was also a blue/yellow victory in Oliva thanks to US rider Kc van Aarem and the 8-year-old mare Elabeeleen V/H Vijverbos Z, a daughter of Exellent van de Zuuthoeve and Poor Boy from the breeding farm of Guido Vanhumbeeck. Van Aarem and Elabeeleen V/H Vijverbos, also good for a 3^rd place in the Gold 1.40m class the week before, were the final winners of the Gold 1.35m class, where with a clear round in 62.01 seconds they were more than a quarter of a second ahead of the rest of the field.

Also in this class, Belgian rider Maxim Godecharle scored a podium place with the 11-year-old gelding Aribas Z, an offspring of Aktion Pur Z and Cracky Z bred by vet Wim Malisart. Godecharle and Aribas Z did not make a mistake in this speed class either and with a finishing time of 63.21 seconds they secured 3^rd place.

4^th place in this 1.35m class was then again reserved for Dutch rider Levi Driessen and the 8-year-old mare Destiny de Semilly Z (Diamant de Semilly x Landor S - Breeder: Patrik Lewin), with whom he managed to add the 1.30m class to his record of achievements the day before. They managed to stop the clock in 64.05 seconds, thus securing a top ranking this time too. His compatriot Logan Fiechter and the also 8-year-old gelding Apphire H Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Mr. Blue - Breeder: Stal 't Hofstee) followed in 5^th place in the standings and confirmed this performance the day after by taking 10^th place in the Gold 1.40m class.

Last but not least, there were also two Z-horses that finished 6^th during the opening day on Thursday. For the American rider Campbell Brown and the 11-year-old chestnut mare Colina Z (C-Ingmar x Carthago Z - Breeder: J.R.J. Evenhuis & L.G. Morsink) that was the case during the Gold 1.45m class, while the young Belgian rider Lara Eggermont and the 15-year-old grey mare Born To Win Ap Z (Bentley vd Heffinck x Toulon - Breeder: Piet Calmeyn) jumped to a 6^th place during the Gold 1.40m class.