Gilles Thomas and Elfra Van Beek Z triumph in Stockholm final class

Last weekend, the Longines Global Champions Tour was already ready for the ^9th round of the 2024 season and for that they went to the Swedish capital Stockholm. Just like in Paris the week before, the final class on Sunday in Stockholm was won by a Zangersheide horse and this time Belgian Champion Gilles Thomas took care of that with the 10-year-old stallion Elfra van Beek Z, the son of El Salvador and Vagabond de la Pomme from the stud farm of Guido Herrijgers. Thomas and Elfra van Beek Z already came out strong several times in recent weeks and months, so yesterday they confirmed that good form again. In this 1.50m class against the clock, the duo managed to keep all the rails in the reels and with a time of 62.91 seconds they managed to outclass the competition.

On Saturday in Stockholm, everything revolved around the team competition of the Global Champions League, and in it the Zangersheide horses once again came out strong with two podium places in the individual classification during the second and decisive round. Thus,^2nd place was reserved for French rider Kevin Staut with the 11-year-old gelding Beau de Laubry Z, the son of Bisquet Balou van de Mispelaere and Nabab de Rêve from the breeding farm of the Haelterman family of Haras de Laubry. Staut and Beau de Laubry Z, also good for a ^6th place in the 1.45m class on Friday, went fast to the finish line in 67.61 seconds in this 1.60m class, beating only Sweden's world number 1 Henrik von Eckermann.

But ^3rd place in this decisive round of the Global Champions League was also coloured blue and yellow thanks to Staut's compatriot Simon Delestre and the also 11-year-old gelding Dexter Fontenis Z, the breeding product of S.C.R.I S.Ky Horses combining the blood of Diarado with that of Voltaire. Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z did not make a mistake either, but did need 69.12 seconds to complete their round successfully.

Finally, it was also another successful weekend for French rider Julien Anquetin with the 11-year-old grey gelding Z Ice Cube Z, a son of Zacharov TN and Casco bred in the Netherlands by P.J. Amendt. Anquetin and Z Ice Cube Z started their show in Stockholm with a ^7th place in the 1.45m class on Friday and, just like the week before in Paris, they managed to finish ^3rd in the first round of the Global Champions League.