New GP Victory in Kentucky

A week after the victory of the American rider Quentin Judge and his 10-year-old gelding HH Zorro Z (Zirroco Blue x Escudo I) from breeder Bart Veldeman, the CSI3* GP in Kentucky resulted in another GP victory for a Zangersheide horse last weekend. This time it was the Australian lady rider Lauren Balcomb who claimed the victory with the 12 year old gelding Verdini d'Houtveld Z, a son of Verdi TN and Caretino who was bred by Xavier Van Melckenbeke. Balcomb and Verdini d'Houtveld Z were one of the 15 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off and with a convincing round in 35.68 seconds they were more than 2 full seconds ahead of the competition.

Furthermore the Irish rider Simon McCarthy also qualified for the jump-off with the 11-year-old stallion Athletix Hero Z, a son of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z and HH Radco, who was bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry. McCarthy and Athletix Hero Z, who also placed 8th in a 1.35m class on Wednesday, managed to set the second fastest time in 37.40 seconds, but due to a fault along the way they had to settle for 7th place in the ranking .

During the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Thursday, there was success for the blood of our chestnut stallion Comilfo Plus Z. The 7th place went to the Argentinian rider Luis Pedro Biraben with the 9-year-old grey stallion Chapeau PS Z, a son of Comilfo Plus Z and Calato Z who was bred by Peter Simons and who is also approved for Studbook Zangersheide. Both in the basic round and in the jump-off they managed to keep all the poles in the cups.

Finally, the American lady rider Cathleen Driscoll also secured a victory with the 12-year-old mare Go with the Flow, a daughter of Diarado and Coronado who was born at the home of breeder Melanie Gelin as Diarola G&C 2011 Z. Driscoll and Go with the Flow became the winners of the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class during the opening day on Wednesday.