Bronze for Kannem J.A. Z in the CSI4* Grand Prix of Gorla Minore

There was a lot of international action on Italian soil last weekend, with both the Arezzo Equestrian Centre and the Equieffe Equestrian Centre of Gorla Minore jumping at four-star level. This of course included quite a few Z-horses making their appearance in the ring, and in Gorla Minore one of them managed to shine with a place on the Grand Prix podium.

That honour went to the 10-year-old stallion Kannem J.A. Z, a son of Kannan and Lux Z bred by Jean-André Souvereyns. Kannem J.A. Z appeared in the CSI4* Grand Prix of Gorla Minore with his British rider Robert Murphy and after a clear basic round, they were one of 12 combinations to qualify for the jump-off. In it, the duo again managed to leave all obstacles untouched and with a finishing time of 46.55 seconds they secured a nice ^3rd place.

Also qualifying for the jump-off were Belgian rider Andres Vereecke and the 12-year-old chestnut mare Halima van het Bonte Hof Z, a daughter of Hos d'O and Heartbreaker from the breeding farm of Leen Braeckmans. Vereecke and Halima van het Bonte Hof Z, who already shone on Friday with a ^4th place in the 1.50m main class, managed to do it in 44.55 seconds exactly two full seconds faster than Murphy and Kannem J.A. Z, but a mistake on the way meant they had to be satisfied with ^9th place overall.

Also on Sunday, there was also a 1.45m class on the programme for the riders of the CSI4* competition and in it the victory coloured blue and yellow. It was Dutch rider Mans Thijssen who claimed the lead with the 10-year-old gelding Nero Z, a son of Numero Uno and Lupicor who was bred in the Netherlands by Meulendijks Stables and with whom Thijssen also managed to gain a ^6th place in the 1.45m class on Friday. In both the^1st and^2nd phases Thijssen and Nero Z managed to keep all obstacles in the scoops and with a chrono time of 23.20 seconds they were just under a quarter of a second ahead of the rest of the field.

But we also saw a Z-horse in ^3rd place during this 1.45m class on Sunday thanks to French rider Alexis Goulet and the also 10-year-old mare Celine RBF Z, a breeding product of M. Coenen from the Netherlands who combined the blood of Cape Coral RBF Z with that of Corofino I. Goulet and Celine RBF Z also kept it neatly clear twice, crossing the finish line in 24.08 seconds.

Furthermore, in Gorla Minore there was also a win for Dutch rider Kevin Jochems and the also already 10-year-old mare Looks Good de Liebri Z, a daughter of Lector vd Bisschop and Bentley vd Heffinck from the breeding farm of Lieven Bruyneel of Liebri BVBA. In the 1.40m speed class on Friday, Jochems and Looks Good de Liebri Z rushed to the finishing line in 61.33 seconds, just under two full seconds on the rest of the field of competitors. On Sunday during the 1.45m class, Jochems and Looks Good de Liebri Z further confirmed that performance by finishing ^4th.

There were also two placings for Jochems' compatriot Mel Thijssen and the 9-year-old grey stallion Cobalt De Quélennec Z, a son of Cornet Obolensky and Gipsy d'ASK bred in France by Emmanuel Le Berre. In both the 1.45m class on Friday and the one on Saturday, they produced a flawless performance, which also earned them ^4th place in the standings twice.

Last but not least, there were also two Z-horses that managed a top 5 ranking during the 1.40m class on Saturday. These included a ^3rd place for British rider Millie Allen with the 10-year-old chestnut mare Clearbelle 3 Z (Clearway x Carnute - B: 3 Invest BVBA) and a ^4th place for German rider Pia Reich with the 8-year-old chestnut stallion Fellow De Will Z (For Pleasure x Catoki - B: EURL C. Eole).