Naturelle VH Legita Hof Z wins the CSI2* GP of Opglabeek

For the second week in a row, there was some international action on Belgian soil in Sentower Park, Opglabbeek, last weekend. It became a very successful show for the blue/yellow colors of Zangersheide, because with no fewer than ten (!) victories, the Z horses completely dominated this international show!

The leading role was for by Belgian Champion Young Riders Tristan Guisson with his 11-year-old chestnut mare Naturelle vh Legitahof Z, a daughter of Nabab de Rêve and For Pleasure who was bred by his father Eddy Guisson and who is also the dam of our chestnut stallion Astronomic Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z). Guisson and Naturelle vh Legitahof Z became the winners of the CSI2* GP on Sunday afternoon, where they were more than half a second ahead of the competition with a clear jump-off in 35.77 seconds. Furthermore, the Belgian lady rider Charlotte Philippe was also placed during this CSI2* GP with her 9-year-old grey gelding Electro Vd Kromsteeg Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Der Senaat 111 – B: Ann Van Putte). The duo, who also finished sixth in the 1.45m class on Thursday, also managed to keep it clear in the jump-off and secured a fifth place in the ranking.

Before the start of the CSI2* GP, another 1.45m class took place for the CSI2* competition and in this too we also got a Zangersheide horse at the top of the ranking. It was the Belgian rider Nico Baerts who became the winner with his home-bred 10-year-old gelding Casillias Z, a son of Crowntano Z and Versace van het Ruytershof. In a jump-off for which fourteen combinations were able to qualify, he narrowly left the competition behind. His compatriot Maurice van Roosbroeck jumped to a seventh place with the 9-year-old gelding Emir du Coeur des Collines Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Calypso III – B: Eric Vandewiele). He also managed to keep it clear twice.

During the 1.40m class on Friday, it was the Belgian rider Alexander Housen who secured a victory with the 10-year-old mare Karenina Z, a breeding product of Hanna Remans who combines the blood of Kannan with that of Quick Star. Housen and Karenina Z kept it clear in both the 1st and the 2nd phase and with a finishing time of 24.91 seconds they were exactly 2 full seconds ahead of the competition. For the Dutch lady rider Sanne Thijssen there was a fourth place in this class and this with the 10-year-old mare Cupcake Z (Chacco Blue x Caretano Z – B: Wilmes).

Also on Friday, the Brazilian rider Thiago Ribas Da Costa jumped to the victory in the 1.30m class with the 11-year-old mare Tinka's Fee Sauveniere Z (Tinka's Boy x Alcatraz – B: Fabienne Daigneux-Lange). Ribas Da Costa and Tinka's Fee Sauveniere Z also finished fifth on Thursday and this time they beat the competition with a clear round in 54.97 seconds. Furthermore, Alexander Housen became fourth in this class and this with the 9-year-old mare De Gucci Hh Z (Dicasi O.H. x Pablo Van Berkenbroeck – B: Wim Housen).

The fifth and final victory in the CSI2* competition was secured by the Belgian rider Jens Vandenberk with his 14-year-old grey mare Cynthia Z (Calvados Z x Turbo van het Gestelhof – B: Theo Kelchtermans). They managed to write the 1.30m high opening class on their list of honons.

On Thursday there was also a 1.45m class on the program for the CSI2* competition in which the French rider Edouard Coral managed to jump to a podium place with the 10-year-old mare Catimini Z (Crown Z x Rosire – B: Cecile Cosson). In a class against the clock they managed to keep it clear and this performance was good for a second place in the ranking.

Young Horses

Next to the five victories in the CSI2* competition, there were also five victories last weekend in the classes for the young horses. During the classes for the 7- and 8-year-old horses, two of the three classes were won by Joris Geenen with the 7-year-old mare Calinka HP Z, a daughter of Casallo Z out of the mare Mycorra HP Z (Mylord Carthago), who jumps herself at 1.40m level with the Belgian rider Marc Boes. Geenen and the breeding product of Maurice Hermans beated the competition on both Wednesday and Thursday and also became second on Friday.

During that class on Friday, they had to leave the victory to the Belgian rider Wilm Vermeir with the 7-year-old mare Belle Amie Vd Dassenheide Z, which meant that a Zangersheide horse was also at the top of the ranking in this class. Belle Amie Vd Dassenheide Z was bred by Jill Goossens and combines the blood of Bamako de Muze with that of Emerald van 't Ruytershof.

The last two victories were secured by the Belgian lady rider Catherine Gustin with the 6-year-old mare Lily-Rose Jt de La Limite Z, a daughter of Luigi d'Eclipse and Lancaster V who was bred by Justine Thiry. Gustin and Lily-Rose Jt de La Limite Z won the class for the 5 and 6 year old horses on both Thursday and Saturday.

Finally, the Belgian rider Kyle Cuypers managed to jump into the picture with his home-bred 5-year-old mare Domiena Van 'T Buxushof Z, a daughter of our black stallion Dominator 2000 Z and this in combination with Parco. Cuypers and Domiena Van 'T Buxushof Z became second, third and sixth once in the classes for the 5 and 6 year old horses.