29 October '24
Belano Vd Wijnhoeve Z secures Grand Prix win at Valencia
© Moura Tours in Valencia
The sunny Valencia hosted the third week of the Moura Tours last weekend, where once again many Zangersheide horses made their appearance. On a daily basis, they managed to produce some strong performances, the absolute highlight being a resounding victory in the CSI3* Grand Prix!
This time, the honour went to Spanish rider Mariano Martinez Bastida with the 15-year-old gelding Belano Vd Wijnhoeve Z, a son of the stallions Berlin and Darco from the stud farm of Danny De Cuyper. Martinez Bastida and Belano Vd Wijnhoeve Z, who also had successes at the Deauville and La Coruña competitions earlier this summer, were one of only four combinations to go clear in the first round and thus qualify for the jump-off. In that decisive round, the duo managed to post another clear round and with a finishing time of 39.38 seconds, they were just under a full second ahead of the competition.
But second place in this CSI3* Grand Prix also coloured blue and yellow, thanks to British rider Laura Renwick and the 11-year-old mare Enjoy Ck Z (Echo van 't Spieveld x Coronado), with the letters 'Ck' referring to breeder Kristof Ceulemans. Renwick and Enjoy Ck Z crossed the finish line in 40.36 seconds after a clear round and thus had to settle for the first place of honour, just like during the 1.30m class the day before.
Another notable combination in Valencia was Renwick's compatriot James Smith with the 13-year-old stallion Eagele Z, a son of Eldorado van de Zeshoek and Ramiro Z, who was bred in the Netherlands by Bart Timmermans. Smith and Eagele Z already impressed during the 1.45m class on Thursday with a nice 3rd place and confirmed that good form by securing a 4th place in the Grand Prix.
In addition to his Grand Prix victory with Belano Vd Wijnhoeve Z, Mariano Martinez Bastida was also successful last weekend with the 11-year-old stallion Quark de Preuilly Z, a son of Quaprice Bois Margot and Dobel's Cento from the Fermiere de Preuilly stud farm. Indeed, Martinez Bastida and Quark de Preuilly Z won the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Friday, in which they were more than a full second ahead of the competition with a clear round in 62.05 seconds.
Another combination who had a strong weekend was Frenchwoman Alexa Ferrer with the 13-year-old mare Arka de La Hart Z, a daughter of Arko III and Kashmir Van Schuttershof bred by Kevin and Maïte Maus. Ferrer and Arka de La Hart Z made an excellent start to their show on Thursday with a2nd place in the 1.40m class and managed to secure a nice 5th place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking class a day later.
Finally, in Valencia, Portuguese António Matos Almeida also managed to finish in2nd place with the 9-year-old gelding Fernando Z, a son of Focus Gln and Aquilino from the breeding farm of De Claesstraete Stables in the Netherlands. Matos Almeida and Fernando Z achieved their2nd place in the 1.45m main class on Thursday.