28 January '25
Gold and silver in the CSI3* Valencia Grand Prix
© Moura Tours in Valencia
After the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour of Oliva and the Andalucia Sunshine Tour of Vejer de la Frontera, the Moura Tours in Valencia started on Spanish soil last weekend. The opening week got off to an immediate promising start for the Z-horses, as both victory and2nd place coloured blue and yellow in the CSI3* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.
A total of 43 combinations appeared in the ring on Sunday afternoon in Valencia for the CSI3* Grand Prix, in which the obstacles were at a height of 1.50m. Of those 43 combinations, 13 managed to clear the basic round flawlessly to secure a spot for the jump-off. In it, victory went to Frenchman Stanislas de Malet with the 11-year-old bay gelding Zambo M Z, a son of Zandor Z and Lupicor bred in the Netherlands by Meulendijks Stables. De Malet and Zambo M Z again kept it neatly clear in the jump-off and with a finishing time of 40.52 seconds, they were more than half a second ahead of the rest of the field of competitors!
But the2nd place in this CSI3* Grand Prix was also taken by a Z-horse thanks to Brit James Smith and 14-year-old stallion Eagele Z, a breeding product of Bart Timmermans who combined the blood of Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN with that of Ramiro Z. Smith and Eagele Z, who have already amassed an impressive record in recent months, crossed the finish line in 41.14 seconds, securing another top ranking.
In the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Friday, Dutch rider Gert Jan Bruggink managed to secure a top 5 ranking with his 11-year-old grey gelding Vigalio Sho Z, his homebred son of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Come On. In a jump-off for which no fewer than 19 combinations managed to qualify, Brugging and Vigalio Sho Z again kept all the bars in the reels and with a time of 38.60 seconds they finished just off the podium in 4th place.
Also in the jump-off of this Longines Ranking Test we saw Spaniard Santiago Nuñez Riva with the 13-year-old mare Chakira Z, a daughter of Crown Z and Quidam de Rêvel from the breeding farm of G.B.L. Nijhof. Nuñez Riva and Chakira Z, also good for 10th place during the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Thursday, finished in 42.18 seconds, taking 7th place this time.
The 4th place in the Longines Ranking Test on Thursday was for Italian Roberto Turchetto with the 10-year-old gelding Asjemenou Sr Z, a breeding product of Keystud and E & MJ Sleutels who combined the blood of Andiamo Z with that of Carthago Z. Turchetto and Asjemenou Sr Z did not have a single fault in this class against the clock. Two days later the duo also confirmed this performance with a 10th place in the 1.40m class. Then one time penalty unfortunately kept them out of the jump-off.
In the 1.35m class on Friday, it was Belgian rider Anthony Wellens and the 9-year-old chestnut mare Fancy Orange Z who ensured a blue/yellow victory. Wellens and Fancy Orange Z, a daughter of For Pleasure and Argentinus from the breeding farm of Patrick De Roeck, kept it clear in both the1st and2nd phases and with a finishing time of 31.33 seconds they were just under half a second ahead of the competition.
Finally, there were also 2 placings for British rider Chloe Aston and her 8-year-old mare Cisca Von Rotheck Z (Cicero Z x Flamenco de Semilly - B: Bruno Genten). Aston and Cisca Von Rotheck Z became 6th in this 1.35m class on Friday and on Sunday they closed their competition with a 5th place in another 1.35m class.