Bronze for Bonfois van 't Hof V Santa Rosa in the CSI5* Grand Prix of Coapexpan

While people in Europe could enjoy a new edition of The Dutch Masters - Indoor Brabant in 's Hertogenbosch last weekend, a five-star competition was also on the programme on the other side of the world. The place to be was the Club Hípico Coapexpan in Mexico, where the CSI5* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon was quite exceptional.

A total of 20 combinations ventured their chance during this main class of the weekend, in which the basic round was a particularly tough task. Too tough even as it turned out, as none of the 20 combinations managed to get through the course unscathed. For the leading roles, we therefore had to look at the combinations with 4 penalty points and so, in the end, a podium place was reserved for Mexican rider Ana Sofia Legorreta Hernandez with the 11-year-old gelding Bonfois van 't Hof V Santa Rosa, a son of Bisquet Balou van de Mispelaere and Nonstop who was born as Bonfois van 't Hof V Eversen Z at breeder Ronny Maes. Legorreta Hernandez and Bonfois van 't Hof V Santa Rosa thus saw a fault roll out of the scoops in the basic round, but a fast finishing time still secured them Grand Prix bronze in the end.

In the five-star competition at Coapexpan last weekend, there was also a blue/yellow victory, which Legorreta Hernandez' compatriot Maria Michel took care of with the 10-year-old mare Iris van 't Kattenheye Z, a daughter of Indoktro-K van 't Kattenheye and Vagabond de la Pomme who, as her name suggests, was bred by Tony and Mieke Raman. In the 1.45m class on Saturday, Michel and Iris van 't Kattenheye Z finished in 35.24 seconds in the^2nd phase, just under half a second ahead of the rest of the field of competitors.

In turn, ^3rd place in this 1.45m class on Saturday was taken by Dominican rider Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso with the also 10-year-old mare Vienna de Laubry Z, a daughter of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Cento bred by the Haelterman family of Haras de Laubry. They too managed to stay nicely clear in both the^1st and^2nd phases, but needed 36.71 seconds to complete their^2nd phase.

CSI2* competition

In addition to the five-star competition, a two-star competition also took place in Coapexpan last weekend and some Z-horses also managed to give their best in it. The most eye-catching name here was that of the 9-year-old mare Canadian Girl Z, a daughter of Carrera VDL and Quasimodo vd Molendreef from the breeding farm of J.A. Weggemans. Together with her Uruguayan rider Juan Manuel Luzardo, Canadian Girl Z appeared three times at the start and they also managed to win three times. During both the 1.40m classes on Thursday and Saturday and the 1.45m class on Friday, the duo managed to outclass the competition.

Another notable combination was Mexican rider Gonzalo Azcarraga with the 16-year-old mare Haiti Z, a daughter of Henry Z and T'is Voltaire bred by Jorge Martinez. Azcarraga and Haiti Z also competed three times and managed to place three times. A^2nd place in the 1.35m class on Thursday was followed by a victory in the 1.35m class on Friday and a ^3rd place in the 1.40m class on Sunday.