Dourkhan Hero Z shines in the CSI5* Grand Prix of Monterrey La Silla

While Europe had a World Cup show on the programme in the French city of Lyon, the past few days also saw competition at the highest level on the other side of the world. Mexico's Monterrey La Silla hosted the eighth stage of the Major League Showjumping, where Christian Ahlmann managed to provide a stellar performance with our stallion Dourkhan Hero Z!

The CSI5* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon was, of course, the absolute highlight of the weekend in Monterrey La Silla last weekend. Of the 37 combinations that appeared at the start, only six managed to stay clear in the basic round and thus advance to the jump-off. So one of these six combinations was Christian Ahlmann with the 9-year-old stallion Dourkhan Hero Z, a son of Sea Coast Don't Touch Tiji Hero and Zandor Z, bred by Luc Henry. In the jump-off, Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z again left all the obstacles untouched and this performance earned them a brilliant ^4th place in this prestigious five-star event!

Also in this CSI5* Grand Prix, American rider Ashley Vogel was one of the prize winners with the 12-year-old grey mare Madiba AG Z, a daughter of Mylord Carthago and Corland VDL from the breeding farm of Dutchman Alex Gisbertz. Vogel and Madiba AG Z did manage to keep all the bars neatly in the basic round, but a time penalty unfortunately kept them out of the jump-off and made them have to make peace with ^7th place.

A day earlier, Mexican rider Eugenio Garza Perez managed to secure a podium place with the 16-year-old gelding Victer Finn DH Z, with the letters DH in the name referring to breeder De Dwerse Hagen BVBA. During the 1.50m speed class, the duo rushed to the finishing line in 60.42 seconds and this performance earned them a nice^2nd place.

But also further down the standings we saw two more Zangersheide horses at the top of the standings. For example, after their good performance in San Miguel de Allende last month, this time there was a ^6th place for Mexican rider Carlos Hank Guerreiro with the 10-year-old stallion H5 Ganesh Hero Z (Gemini XX x Diamant de Semilly - B: Luc Henry and Gerry Marron) and former Belgian Champion Nicola Philippaerts captured ^8th place with the 12-year-old chestnut mare H&M Luna van 't Ruytershof Z (Levisto Z x For Pleasure - B: Bert Van den Branden/Stal 't Ruytershof Bvba)

The 1.55m main class on Friday was also a great success for our blue/yellow colours, with two Zangesheide horses managing to jump to a place on the podium. The best performance in this came from Canadian rider Erynn Ballard and the 13-year-old stallion De Flor 111 Z, a son of Der Senate 111 and Action-Breaker, bred by Peter Van Santvoort and Stud 111. Ballard and De Flor 111 Z managed to ensure a clear round in both the basic round and the jump-off, and with a finishing time of 40.30 seconds they secured^2nd place in the standings.

The other podium contender in this class was Carlos Hank Guerreiro, this time with the 10-year-old gelding H5 Porthos Maestro Wh Z from the breeding farm of Frank Fory and Christophe Wouters. Hank piloted the son of Picasso Z and Ogano Sitte safe and sound to the finish in 40.94 seconds, thus following Ballard and De Flor 111 Z in ^3rd place.