18 November '24
Grand Prix win for Billy Twomey and Chat Botte E.D. at Valencia
/
Studbook
© Moura Tours in Valencia
On Spanish soil last weekend, the six-week Moura Tours in Valencia came to a spectacular end with a four-star competition. It was a successful finale for the blue-and-yellow colours of Zangersheide, as a Z-horse topped the leaderboard at the CSI4* Grand Prix on Sunday.
That honour went to 16-year-old chestnut stallion Chat Botte E.D., a son of Casall and Darco, born to breeder Andre Vandepapeliere as Chat Botte du Ruisseau Z. Chat Botte E.D. has formed a rock-solid duo with Irish rider Billy Twomey for several years now. After a flawless basic round, they were among the seven combinations that qualified for the decisive jump-off. There too, Twomey and Chat Botte E.D. managed to keep all the bars in the scoops and with a finishing time of 35.32 seconds they convincingly took victory. Their fast round provided a comfortable lead of over a second over the competition.
Besides Twomey and Chat Botte du Ruisseau Z's victory, a second Z-horse also managed to jump into the picture during this denouement of the weekend. Indeed, 6th place went to Argentinian rider Mariano Ossa and the 12-year-old gelding Elton van het Exelhof Z, a son of Elvis Ter Putte and Cassicor, bred by Werner Essers. They too were among the combinations that managed to finish a clear basic round.
Furthermore, it was also a fruitful weekend for British rider James Smith and the 9-year-old gelding Dominican 2000 Z, a breeding product of Carl Brems and Mieke Bosma who combined the blood of Dominator 2000 Z with that of Casir ASK. Smith and Dominican 2000 Z started their competition on Thursday with a 5th place during the 1.40m class, while a day later they managed to improve on that and secured 4th place in the standings during the 1.40m class.
In turn,2nd place during that 1.40m class on Thursday was reserved for Frenchwoman Alexa Ferrer and the 13-year-old mare Arka de la Hart Z, the daughter of Arko III and Kashmir Van Schuttershof, from the breeding farm of Kevin and Maïte Maus. With a clear2nd phase in 27.08 seconds, Ferrer and Arka de la Hart Z were just 9 hundredths of a second short of winning.
Also on Thursday, Swiss rider Noah Keller managed a top 10 placing with the 9-year-old mare Atlanta des Sequoias Z, a daughter of recently deceased Aktion Pur Z and Indoctro, who was bred by Elevage des Sequoias. In the 1.45m main class, Keller and Atlanta des Sequoias Z neatly kept all the bars in the reels, finishing in 6th place.
During the 1.45m main class on Saturday, a Z-horse also jumped into the limelight. Irish rider Cian O'Connor secured a fine top ranking with the 9-year-old mare Snowmass, a daughter of Toulon and Darco, who was named Tirelire T&L Z at birth. O'Connor piloted the breeding product of Cédric and Delphine Tilleman safe and sound to the finish and this performance in turn earned them 5th place in the standings.
Another notable combination in Valencia was Italian rider Roberto Turchetto and the 9-year-old stallion Asjemenou Sr Z, a son of Andiamo Z and Carthago Z, bred in the Netherlands by Keystud. Turchetto and Asjemenou Sr Z shone on Friday with a win in the 1.35m class and a day later they confirmed that good form by finishing2nd in another 1.35m class.