19 Juli '23
New victory for Simolo de la Roque Z!
© Longines Global Champions Tour
After a week's break, last weekend there was some action again in the Longines Global Champions Tour and more specifically in La Coruña, Spain. The Luxembourg rider Victor Bettendorf secured another victory here with his 11-year-old grey gelding Simolo de la Roque Z, the son of Spartacus TN and Casall who was bred in France by Alexandrine Hecart and with whom Bettendorf also won a class last month during the Longines Global Champions Tour of Stockholm. In La Coruña, Bettendorf and Simolo de la Roque Z became the winners of the 1.45m class on Saturday. In both the 1st and 2nd phases they managed to keep all the poles in the cups and with that performance they added another victory to their list of honors.
But also the 3rd place in this class colored blue and yellow and that was ensured by the Belgian rider Gilles Thomas with his 11-year-old stallion Feromas van Beek Z (Fantomas de Muze x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve – B: Guido Herrijgers). They also delivered a flawless performance, but needed more than half a second longer than Bettendorf and Simolo de la Roque Z.
The opening day on Friday was all about the team competition of the Global Champions League and the Irish rider Billy Twomey managed to jump to an individual podium place with the 15-year-old chestnut stallion Chat Botte E.D, a son of Casall ASK and Darco who was born at the home of breeder André Vandepapeliere as Chat Botte du Ruisseau Z. During the second and decisive round they managed to reach the finish in 65.41 seconds and this was good for a 2nd place in the ranking.
Furthermore, the Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten was also placed in this class with his 13-year-old top gelding Beauville Z (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines – B: Pascal Habets). They also managed to ensure a clear round and with that they secured a 7th place in the ranking.
Finally, the American lady rider Paris Sellon managed to jump into the picture with the 11-year-old mare Attoucha Hero Z, a daughter of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z and Diamant de Semilly, who was bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry. During the first round of the Global Champions League they remained clear and with that they also finished in 7th place.