Podium places for Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z and Haiti DW Z at Longines EEF Series in Lier

After the start of the Longines League of Nations a few weeks ago in sunny Abu Dhabi, it was time for a new phase in the international Nations Cup season last weekend. Indeed, at the Hazebroek family's home at the Azelhof in Lier, the starting gun was fired for the Longines EEF Series, the circuit that competes for the honour of the national colours at three-star level. During this first stage of the season, a lot of top riders competed and of course some Zangersheide horses managed to jump into the limelight.

One of those horses that managed to grab the limelight in Lier was the 10-year-old mare Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Chacco Blue out of Evelyne Van Vreckom's breeding farm. Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z is one of Belgian rider Gudrun Patteet's top horses and together they managed to secure a podium place in the 1.50m Longines Ranking Test last Saturday. In a jump-off for which seventeen combinations managed to qualify, the duo produced a neat clear round and a finishing time of 36.95 seconds secured them ^3rd place in the rankings.

A few places further down that ranking, Spanish rider Pilar Lucrecia Cordon was also among the prize winners with the 12-year-old mare Pica Pica Z, a daughter of Pilgrim II and Abeltus Z bred by Haras Rio Bravo. They also held it clear again in that jump-off, but needed 38.02 seconds to finish their round which was good for ^6th place.

On Thursday during the opening day Patteet's compatriot Thomas de Wit also managed to get a top 3 ranking with the 10-year-old chestnut mare Haiti Dw Z, a daughter of Scuderia 1918 Halifax van het Kluizebos and Cicero Z, who was born and raised at the home of the de Wit family of DW Stables. During the 1.40m opening class against the clock, de Wit and Haiti Dw Z sped to the finish in 72.15 seconds, which also earned them a ^3rd place in the standings. One day later, de Wit and Haiti Dw Z also confirmed this performance by finishing ^9th in another 1.40m class.

During this 1.40m class on Friday morning, De Wit also brought his 10-year-old self-bred stallion Ecuador Dw Z (El Torreo de Muze x Quasimodo van de Molendreef) to the start and they too managed to produce a fine performance. Both in the^1st and^2nd phase, they did not have a fault and that result was finally good for ^5th place.

Belgian rider Wilm Vermeir also managed to finish twice with the also 10-year-old gelding d'Amour Jmg Z, a son of our stallion Dieu Merci Van T&L Z and Indoctro, whereby the letters Jmg refer to breeder Jean-Marie Gregoor. Vermeir and d'Amour Jmg Z jumped to ^10th place in the 1.40m class on Friday and they managed to repeat this performance in the concluding CSIO3* Grand Prix on Sunday. In it, they managed to ensure a flawless performance during both the basic round and the jump-off.

Finally, there were also two Z-horses who managed to finish ^6th in the CSIO3* competition classes. For the Brazilian Eduardo Pereira de Menezes and the 11-year-old stallion H5 Ganesh Hero Z (Gemini x Diamant de Semilly - B: Luc Henry & Gerry Marron), it was during the 1.40m opening class on Thursday, while Dutchman Bart Lips and the 10-year-old gelding Ding Dong van Overis Z (Diamant de Semilly x Chellano Z - B: Studfarm Overis) gained their ^6th place during the 1.40m class on Friday.