Solid Gold Z and Dourkhan Hero Z impress in Leipzig

Our Zangersheide stallions have clearly started the new year well! Two weeks ago there was already that beautiful third place of Dominator 2000 Z (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini I – F: Tony Foriers) during the Longines Grand Prix of Basel and last week in Leipzig it was Solid Gold Z and Dourkhan Hero Z who jumped into the spotlights!

Due to numerous successes in the past, including the phenomenal World Cup victory with Taloubet Z (Galoubet A x Polydor – B: Cees Klaver) during his very last show in 2018, Partner Pferd Leipzig may well have become the show of the year for Christian Ahlmann. For 'his' audience, he was therefore keen to give the very best of himself again.

During the opening day of the CSI5* competition on Friday, it was mainly looking forward to the Word Cup Qualifier and for that Ahlmann counted on our 12-year-old stallion Solid Gold Z (Stakkato Gold x Calvin – B: Gestüt Sprehe GmbH), that other black pearl from our Stud Farm. During this class against the clock, Ahlmann and Solid Gold Z immediately managed to impress, because with a convincing finish time of 56.79 seconds they were almost 3 (!) full seconds ahead of the competition!

But Solid Gold Z was not the only Zangersheide stallion who jumped into the spotlights in Leipzig in recent days. During the classes for the young horses, Ahmann brought our 8-year-old stallion Dourkhan Hero Z (Don't Touch Tiji Hero x Zandor Z – B: Stud Hero / Luc Henry) to the start and he also managed to impress again with his perfect technique. After finishing sixth during the second qualifier on Friday, they became second during in the big final on Sunday!

Also in the classes for the young horses we saw vice-Belgian Champion Thibeau Spits with the 8-year-old stallion Carlo van Klapscheut (Carlow van de Helle x Cicero Z – B: Mivaro BVBA). They jumped into a fifth place during the second qualifier on Friday.

Next to Solid Gold Z's victory, we also saw a second Zangersheide horse in the top ten of the ranking during the Word Cup Qualifier on Friday. The eighth place went to the Swiss rider Bryan Balsiger with the 10-year-old chestnut gelding Chelsea Z (Chellano Alpha Z x Cicero Z – B: W. Sijbers). They also managed to ensure a flawless performance. Last but not least, Christian Ahlmann was also placed one time with our 16-year-old grey stallion Caribis Z (Caritano x Canabis Z – B: Stoeterij Zangersheide). They finished seventh on Friday during a 1.45m class.