Dexter Fontenis Z shines again in Doha!

What a top performance again for the French rider Simon Delestre and his 10-year-old gelding Dexter Fontenis Z, the son of Diarado and Voltaire who was bred in France by Jérôme Hennau. A week after their 2nd place during the CSI5* GP of the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab, the successful duo jumped into the picture again last weekend during the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha!

Al Shaqab in Doha has been the setting for the start of the new season of the Longines Global Champions Tour for several years now and that tradition has been continued this year. The highlight of the weekend was of course the LGCT Grand Prix on Saturday evening, in which Simon Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z once again played a leading role. Delestre and his black gelding qualified for this GP with a 3rd place in the individual ranking during the second and decisive round of the Global Champions League on Friday. With that performance, they also had an important share in the 2nd place for the St. Tropez Pirates during the team competition.

During the LGCT Grand Prix Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z continued their good form and after a clear round they were one of the 12 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off. As the penultimate combination, they again managed to ensure a flawless performance and a finishing time of 34.46 seconds resulted in a 3rd place in the ranking.

Furthermore, Christian Ahlmann and our 12-year-old stallion Solid Gold Z (Stakkato Gold x Calvin – B: Gestüt Sprehe GmbH) again delivered two strong performances in Doha. Ahlmann managed to stay clear in both rounds of the Global Champions League with our black pearl and twice this performance resulted in a 10th place in the individual ranking.

Another combination that managed to jump into the spotlight again this week was the Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten with his 13-year-old gelding Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines – B: Pascal Habets). Van der Vleuten counted on his Olympic horse for the first round of the Global Champions League and they jumped to a 5th place in the ranking.

During the opening day on Thursday, his compatriot Suus Kuyten was placed with the 15-year-old stallion Alfa Jordan Z (Air Jordan Z x Lancelot – B: Stal Stenfert), who is also approved for Studbook Zangersheide. During the 1.45m class, Kuyten and Alfa Jordan Z managed to keep it clear in both the 1st and the 2nd phase, resulting in a 6th place.

Next to the first leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour, a three-star competition also took place in Doha last weekend and during the CSI3* GP there was a top 10 ranking for the French lady rider Cyrine Cherif with the 10-year-old mare I'am Moerhoeve's Princess Z (I'am Moerhoeve's Star x Crown Z – B: De Moerhoeve BVBA). They had to deal with an fault in the basic round, but thanks to a fast finish time they still secured a 6th place in the ranking.