21 January '25
Daughter of Epleaser Van 't Heike Z wins CSI2* Grand Prix of Doha
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Studbook
© Lukasz Kowalski
Just like in Abu Dhabi, international show jumping was once again taking place in Qatar last weekend, with the second week of the Doha Tour 2025 on the programme. Following Philipp Weishaupt and Coby 8's victory at last week's CSI4*-W FEI World Cup, it was another fruitful weekend for our blue and yellow colours, as once again a descendant of one of our stallions managed to secure a resounding victory.
This time, that honour fell to Austrian rider Gerfried Puck with the 13-year-old mare Equitron Melody Vd Smidshoeve, a daughter of Epleaser van 't Heike Z and Thunder van de Zuuthoeve, bred by Hugo Stevens. Puck and Equitron Melody Vd Smidshoeve also came strong during the opening week with a2nd and a 3rd place in two Longines Ranking Tests and continued their momentum last weekend. After starting their week again on Thursday with a 3rd place during the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test, the highlight followed on Saturday with a win in the CSI2* Grand Prix. In a jump-off for which 11 combinations managed to qualify, the duo galloped to the finish in 33.76 seconds, outclassing the competition by more than 1.5 seconds.
Furthermore, several offspring of Jenson van 't Meulenhof Z also came out strong in Doha and one of them was the 9-year-old mare Quirina van het Leliehof, a breeding product of Luc De Brabander who combined the blood of Jenson van 't Meulenhof Z with that of Camus. Saddled by Norwegian rider Marit Haarr Skollerud Cox, Quirina van het Leliehof was good for 9th place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Friday, while the pair managed to secure 4th place in the CSI2* Grand Prix. In both classes they could not be found with a fault.
Another offspring of Jenson van 't Meulenhof Z who managed to jump into the picture was the 12-year-old stallion No-Comment de Septon, who has been a combination with Swiss rider Nadja Peter Steiner for some time now. During the CSI4* 1.50m class on Friday, Peter Steiner and No-Comment de Septon managed to keep it neatly clear in both the basic round and the jump-off and this performance resulted in 5th place.
The victory during this 1.50m class on Friday then turned blue and yellow thanks to British rider Millie Allen and the 9-year-old grey mare Clearround IL Mondo Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Clearway bred by Tim Naessens, with whom Allen also managed to jump into the prizes twice during the opening week. Allen and Clearround IL Mondo Z, who also took 10th place in the 1.45m class on Thursday, sped to the finish in 35.57 seconds in this eight-strong jump-off, just under two full seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
It was also another successful weekend for Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra with the 13-year-old gelding Van Halen Z, a son of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Canturo bred in Germany by Guido Sperveslage. Seabra and Van Halen Z competed three times over the past few days and managed to place three times. A great2nd place in the 1.40m class on Thursday was followed by a 4th place in the 1.50m class on Friday and a 10th place in the 1.45m class on Saturday.
There were also two placings for Spanish rider Mariano Martinez Bastida with the now 16-year-old gelding Belano Vd Wijnhoeve Z, the son of Berlin and Darco out of Danny De Cuyper's breeding and with whom Martinez Bastida has been a top combination for several years. Martinez Bastida and Belano Vd Wijnhoeve Z took 6th place during that 1.50m class on Friday and a day later they shone with a nice2nd place during the 1.45m Longines Ranking class.
Finally, there was also a podium place in Doha for Ukrainian rider Anastasia Bondarieva with the 10-year-old grey mare Virunga H Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Caretano Z - B: S.C.R.I S.Ky Horses). In the CSI4* 1.40m opening class on Thursday, they kept clear in both the1st and2nd stages and this earned them 3rd place in the standings.