Silver for Comme Elle Faut Odth Z in the CSI3* GP of Brussels

At the Brussels Stephex Masters in Wolvertem, most attention over the past few days was undoubtedly focused on the CSIO5* competition, including the Henders & Hazel Nations cup on Friday and the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday, but a three-star competition also took place at Stephan Conter's home. The highlight of the weekend was yesterday's CSI3* GP, in which Belgian rider Mike van Olst and the 9-year-old mare Comme Elle Faut Odth Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Canabis Z bred by ODTH NV, played a leading role. On Friday, Van Olst and Comme Elle Faut Odth Z managed to qualify for this Grand Prix with a ^14th place during the 1.45m GP Qualifier and yesterday they were one of the 10 combinations who managed to complete basic rounds by arena builder Gregory Bodo and his team. In that jump-off, they once again managed to ensure a flawless round and this performance eventually earned them a nice^2nd place in the standings.

Also in the jump-off, we saw Irish rider Cian O'Connor and the 10-year-old stallion Bingo Z, the son of Balou du Rouet and Nabab de Rêve bred by SPRL Olivier Risselin, whom O'Connor recently acquired from Belgian rider Dominique Joassin. O'Connor quietly took his time in the jump-off to get to know his newest acquisition better and a clear round in 46.54 seconds earned the duo ^7th place in the standings this time.

^8th place in this CSI3* GP was still reserved for Belgian rider Jeroen Appelen and the 8-year-old gelding Gently Z, a son of First Gentleman and Numero Uno from Dutch breeders Schoof and Vullers. Appelen and Gently Z managed a great finishing time in 38.37 seconds, but a mistake on the way ultimately made it ^8th in the standings, just like on Wednesday during the opening day.

Another notable combination in the classes of the CSI3* competition was Belgian rider Nicola Philippaerts and the 10-year-old mare Klaartje Z, a daughter of Kannan and Flipper d'Elle bred in the Netherlands by Ties Raijmakers. Philippaerts and Klaartje Z were good for an immediate ^3rd place in the 1.45m class on Thursday, but achieved their highlight of the weekend during the 1.45m GP Qualifier on Friday. In a class against the clock, Philippaerts and Klaartje Z raced to a convincing finishing time of 63.68 seconds, putting them almost 1.5 seconds ahead of the competition.

There were also 2 placings for Patrick McEntee and the 11-year-old gelding Lloyd's Mury Marais Z, a son of our former grey stallion Levisto Z and Kojak from the breeding farm of Catherine De Buyl Insurance S.A. McEntee and Lloyd's Mury Marais Z already started their show on Wednesday with a ^3rd place in the 1.40m opening class and in the 1.45m main class on Saturday evening they secured a ^10th place in the standings.

Monegasque rider Anastasia Nielsen also managed to jump into the prizes twice with 12-year-old grey mare Beau Van De Hagenhorst Z, a daughter of Big Star Jr K Z and Coronado bred by H.C. Verhagen and previously ridden by Dutch rider Johnny Pals. During both the 1.45m on Wednesday and the 1.45m high GP Qualifier on Friday, Nielsen and Beau Van De Hagenhorst Z managed to keep all the obstacles neatly in the scoops and this earned the duo ^7th place in the standings twice.

Finally, both Luxembourg rider Charlotte Bettendorf with the 9-year-old mare Tirelire T&L Z (Toulon x Darco - B: Cédric & Delphine Tilleman) and Belgian rider Marine Scauflaire with the 10-year-old stallion Cuba Libre De Nevada Z (Charlekijn Van T&L x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve - B: Karel Van Damme) managed to finish in ^5th place. For Bettendorf and Tirelire T&L Z, it was during the 1.45m GP Qualifier on Friday, while Scauflaire and Cuba Libre De Nevada Z achieved their ^5th place also on Friday, but during the 1.40m class.