Z Stallions in the sport

When he was born the grey stallion Columbus Z promptly knew how to impress Christian Ahlmann. Ahlmann first set eyes on Columbus Z when he was barely three days old and he was instantly convinced because of the foal’s expressive presence and the combination of the Cornet Obolensky and Baloubet du Rouet blood.

By now Columbus Z is ten years old and he makes himself noticed in the international sport. He successfully completed the youngster classes and in the past two years acted at two-star and three-star level with Christian Ahlmann and Angelique Rüsen. Meanwhile, his first appearances in Grand Prix competitions under Angelique Rüsen proved successful.

As his name already gives away, the 2017-born grey stallion Codex Diaz Z is a son of Codex One Z, who made a name for himself under Christian Ahlmann by claiming victories like the famous CSI5* GP in Aachen in 2014. Codex Diaz Z’s dam is the Cornet Obolensky mare Cameron Diaz, who also has some more offspring in the shape of Come One Uwe, Acado 14 and Colliers Carlotta who all excel in international showjumping.

Codex Diaz Z commands great natural balance and on top of that has clearly inherited the suppleness, technique and the mentality of his dad. Under Angelique Rüsen he has now made his international debut and we can hardly wait to see him take his next steps in the sport! So for this stallion too his sport career will be priority number one this year.  

The by now 7-year-old chestnut stallion Astronomic vh Legita Hof Z truly has everything it takes to become an absolute top-class horse. As a son of Zangersheide icon Aganix du Seigneur Z, out of the proven dam line of Narcotique de Muze II, he carries an inheritance of talent and success in his genes. His dam is the Nabab de Rêve mare Naturelle vh Legita Hof Z, who made furore over the past three years under the saddle of the young Belgian Young Rider Tristan Guisson. She became European Youngster Champion with Team Belgium, won Gold at the BC and Individual Silver at the EC.

Stud farm Zangersheide purchased Astronomic Z as a foal at the Z-Festival and he has developed into a high-promise showjumper. At the end of 2023 he made his international debut with Angelique Rüsen and jumped successfully in the 6-year-olds. To give him every possible opportunity in the sport, the upcoming year will be fully dedicated to his sport career.

Querido VG Z has only just turned eight, but he had his first impressive feat in the pocket as early as more than two years ago. That was when Christian Ahlmann steered the then 5-year-old strapping Dominator 2000 Z son to the World Champion Title for Young Horses in Lanaken. The Dominator Z progeny prove to be remarkably competitive and have inherited an awful lot from their sire. Like the typical ‘Dominator’ jumping style, the powerful gallop, but also the agility and fighter spirit! Querido’s dam too is made of the right stuff. Earlier she had already brought stallion Leandro VG who jumps 1.50m classes with Belgian rider Jeroen De Winter.

Just like the offspring of their grandsire Dominator Z, Querido Z’s first foals too demonstrate to have enough size, lots of gallop and a good model. Until last year Querido VG Z was available with fresh semen but in 2024 the focus will be entirely on his international sport career, so for breeders he will only be available by means of frozen semen.

The striking stallion Darwin Z was born at Stud farm Zangersheide in 2017 and stems from one of the most renowned mare lines of Stud farm Zangersheide. He is a Dominator 2000 Z son out of the Caretano Z mare Carry Z. This high-legged and high-blooded mare has jumped at the highest level with Judy Ann Melchior and we also know her as the dam of chestnut stallion Copycat Z, the Comilfo Plus Z son, who was bought by Evergate Stables and is creating a furore under Harrie Smolders.

But we also come across a lot of international sport further up in Darwin Z’s pedigree. Like for instance his granddam Cherry Z (Carthago Z) who jumped at 1.50m with Judy Ann Melchior, but she’s also the dam of the Artos Z mare Aida Z. This Aida Z in turn is the dam of the grey stallion and Chellano Alpha Z son Cosmos BH, who is active at 1.60m level with American lady rider Mimi Gochman.

With his aristocratic and high-legged exterior, Darwin Z is yet another typical Dominator 2000 Z offspring. In the past year Joe Clee repeatedly reaped success with him in 1.35m tests, but the combination of stud services and the sport proved to be rather taxing for Darwin Z. He will therefore not be available for stud services in 2024, but instead will be given the chance to gain experience in the sport and become stronger physically.

The now 7-year-old stallion Rob Roy van den Bisschop Z was the revelation of the Woodland’s International Sales end 2021. With his gorgeous looks and remarkably loose jumping style he managed to impress lots of people, so no wonder Pieter Devos and Judy Ann Melchior both zoomed in on this eyecatcher.

Rob Roy van den Bisschop Z combines the Di Cantero van Ter Hulst Z blood with the blood of the mare Omara vd Wellington, the Jenson van ’t Meulenhof Z daughter who currently jumps at 1.45 level with Polish lady rider Adrianna Ostrowkska. Rob Roy van den Bisschop Z’s third dam is the Randel Z mare Ginette van het Carelshof who we also know as the dam of GP mare Quelle-Dame Vd Heffinck (Quidam de Rêvel) under Edwina Tops-Alexander’s saddle.

Pieter Devos mainly had the sport angle in mind, whereas Judy Ann was keen to add him to her breeding stud. This triggered a partnership between the Devos family and Stud farm Zangersheide, with Pieter Devos taking charge of Rob Roy van den Bisschop Z’s sport career and Stud farm Zangersheide being the party to manage his stud career.

Rob Roy van den Bisschop Z displays great capacity and quality and is a complete and very athletic stallion! Last year as a 6-year-old he already competed in several international events with Pieter Devos and his wife Caroline Devos-Poels and in 2024 his sport career with Pieter Devos will take centre stage.

Flacco Z, a striking, just 5-year-old stallion attracts attention with his impressive lineage! As a son of sire For Pleasure and the Action Breaker mare Fixdesign Funke Van ’t Heike, Christian Ahlmann’s former GP mare, he can boast an illustrious pedigree.

Dam Fixdesign Funke Van ’t Heike jumped at the highest level with Christian Ahlmann and she stood out with her exceptional technique and quality on the jump. Also from this pedigree are stallion Ibrahim (Fantastique), who was active at 1.50m with Joris Meulemans, and Vonka A (Darco), former GP mount of Kamal Abdullah Bahamdan and Daniel Deusser.

In spite of his young age Flacco Z already demonstrates good balance and rideability and he has gone through such positive developments in the previous year that we have decided to give priority to his sport career.

Every so many years a super star is born that has no equal. Throughout the years we have been so lucky to have housed the absolute top stars of their generation in our Zangersheide stables; just bring to mind Almé Z, Carthago Z, Dominator Z, … and in our opinion now too Dourkhan Hero Z! Dourkhan Hero Z combines the blood of Don’t Touch Tiji Hero with the blood of his sire Zandor Z and he is a phenomenon of a different league. He ticks every single box and comes very close to the dream image of a modern sport horse and stud stallion. This perfectly-built stallion sports lots of blood, has fantastic technique, a light-footed jumping style with extraordinary athletic capability, a large gallop and he is ultra careful. He also showcases his efficiency in the sport, like winning the Silver medal at the WC Young Horses in Lanaken under Christian Ahlmann as a 7-year-old!

As announced, for now 2023 was the last year for Dourkhan Hero Z to be available with fresh semen. Meanwhile he has made his appearance in the five-star circuit. During Jumping Mechelen for instance, when he achieved an amazing 6^th place in the Zangersheide Sires Of The World! Partnered to Christian Ahlmann he will now fully focus on his career in the sport.