22 January '24
Simon Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z score silver in the CSI4* GP of Doha
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Studbook
© Doha Tour
At the magnificent Longines Arena of Al Shaqab in Doha, the second week of the Doha Tour 2024 was underway last weekend. The opening week there had already been successful last week with a win for Frenchwoman Ines Joly and her 12-year-old gelding Quirados Z at the CSI2* GP, and this second week also yielded plenty of blue/yellow successes again. The highlight of the week was of course the CSI4* GP on Saturday evening and in it French rider Simon Delestre and his black gelding Dexter Fontenis Z, the son of Diarado and Voltaire bred by S.C.R.I S.Ky Horses, once again had a top ranking. Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z were the 3rd best combination in the world in 2023 and last weekend that was confirmed once again with a podium finish at the CSI4* GP of Doha. The successful duo was one of the 8 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off and this resulted in a 2nd place after another clear round!
Also qualifying for the jump-off at this CSI4* GP was Thai rider Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj and her 12-year-old mare Maxwin Kinmar Agalux, a breeding product of Gerrard Marron who combined the blood of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z with that of Lux Z. Karunayadhaj and Maxwin Kinmar Agalux had already placed 6th and 9th in the previous days and secured 4th place in the CSI4* GP.
Before the start of the Grand Prix there was also a 1.50m class on the program for the CSI4* competition and here too the blood of one of our Zangersheide stallions was represented. Fourth place went to the Austrian rider Gerfried Puck with the 12-year-old mare Equitron Melody Vd Smidshoeve, a daughter of Epleaser Z and Thunder van de Zuuthoeve, bred by Hugo Stevens and with whom Puck also managed to win a class at Jumping Mechelen in December. The duo left the wood untouched again.
In 5th place in this class followed Liechtenstein rider Jennifer Hochstadter with her 13-year-old gelding Tinka's Hero Z, a son of Tinka's Boy and Caretino out of the breeding of Vincent Jourdan and Luc Henry. Hochstadter and Tinka's Hero Z had also finished 3rd in a 1.45m Longines Ranking class the day before and this time too they provided a flawless performance.
On Friday there was also a 3rd place for Japanese rider Mike Kawai with his 11-year-old mare Promise Z, a daughter of Gestion Priamus Z and Graf Grannus bred by Jonna Sundblad. During the 1.50m class, they kept it clear during both the first round and the jump-off and this thus also earned them a podium place.
CSI2* competition
In addition to the CSI4* competition, Doha also hosted another CSI2* competition over the past few days and here too some Zangersheide horses made themselves heard again. One of those horses was the 10-year-old mare Maxwin All Pleasure Hero, a daughter of Aganix du Seigneur Z and For Pleasure who was born at breeder Horse Invest Ltd as All Pleasure Hero II Z. Saddled by Thai rider Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj, Maxwin All Pleasure Hero finished 5th in the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Friday and in the CSI2* GP on Saturday afternoon they secured 4th place in the standings.
Who also managed to rank during this CSI2* GP was Saudi rider Khaled Abdulrahman Almobty with the 9-year-old mare Diana du Plevau Z, a daughter of our newest addition Dieu Merci Van T&L Z and Kashmir van Schuttershof bred by Marc Palm. Having already achieved 6th place during the Longines Ranking Test on Friday, Almobty and Diana du Plevau Z secured 7th place in the standings during the CSI2* GP.
Finally, there was also a top ranking for Swedish rider Henrik Von Eckermann with the 10-year-old gelding Fufu Z, a son of Fernando H and Casantos bred by Wilbert Beukens. The current No. 1 in the world jumped Fufu Z to a nice 2nd place during the Longines Ranking Test on Friday.