Marriet Smit-Hoekstra and For Chacco TN excel in Sires of the World

A radiant sun, packed stands and thrill of who will win the title up until the very last jump... These were the perfect ingredients for a thrilling edition of the FEI Zangersheide Sires of the World this afternoon in Lanaken. Every year, this prestigious class is one of the absolute highlights of the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses and that was once again confirmed today with a gripping finale that got the audience on the edge of their seats.

After yesterday's opening test, 47 combinations appeared at the start of this 1.50m class today, all ready to compete in the tough course laid out by the course builders led by Belgian designer Bernard Mathy. During the first part of the class, quite a few combinations had one or multiple faults, but gradually the rhythms and performances improved. In the end, 10 combinations managed to advance to the jump-off, where they had to ride even faster and sharper.

In that exciting final round, it was rider Marriet Smit-Hoekstra who made the difference with her 9-year-old Westphalian-bred For Chacco TN (For Pleasure x Chacco Blue - Breeder: Wilhelm Schwenker). The seventh combination in the ring, the Dutch rider opted for a bold but controlled round. She steered For Chacco TN flawlessly through the jump-off course and clocked off in 46.13 seconds. This strong performance not only earned them victory, but also a place on the honours list of one of the most prestigious classes of the weekend.

"For Chacco TN now officially has the title I gave him years ago: Champion! I've had many good horses in my life, but he is at a whole other level. The very best and very special! I am so happy he has proven himself at this level, he is so fast, he is so clever, this victory is something very special to me, but also for everyone on the team. Even though the time difference with Patrick was very very small, winning still feels really big to me", Marriet says with a smile and a wink to the runner-up.

The battle for the gold remained exciting until the very last moment. German rider Patrick Stühlmeyer, who was represented in this jump-off with two horses, went all out as the very last starter to knock Smit-Hoekstra off the throne. With the 8-year-old Oldenburg Chaloubino PS OLD (Chacoon Blue x Centadel - Breeder: Paul Schockemöhle), he rode a lightning-fast round, but his finishing time of 46.19 seconds turned out to be just six hundredths of a second too slow to claim victory.

"Being the last rider in the jump-off, jumping the last obstacle and then hearing the crowd cheering only to hear the tone change. Do you then ask yourself, where did I leave time unused?", is one of the questions the runner-up gets at the press conference. "Poeh, the difference was so minimal, time may not even be the question, I'd say it has a bit to do with luck too. My luck was that my horse, who is only eight years old, jumped great! He doesn't have much experience at this level yet and maybe sometimes looses some time on the jump because of his quality and scope but I am very proud of him and this reserve title promises a lot for the future," said Patrick Stühlmeyer.

^3rd place remained at home thanks to Christian Ahlmann and the 9-year-old Westphalian-bred Untouched LB (United Touch S x Cornet Obolensky - Breeder: Lena Bieler & Thomas Verhufen). They reappeared in the ring as the penultimate combination and their smooth, powerful ride resulted in a finishing time of 47.50 seconds. "I definitely tried to be the fastest, but after the finish I didn't expect us to have the winning time. But that does not take away from the fact that I am very happy how Untouched LB jumped today and continues his upward trend nicely again," Christian Ahlmann concluded.