23 September '23
Thomas Mertens and Cosimo de Leau Z win the consolation for the 6-year-olds
© Sportfot
Just like the two qualifiers from the past few days, the consolation for the 6-year-old horses also took place today at the Ramiro Z Arena. A total of 140 combinations appeared at the start during this 1.35m class against the clock and 35 of them managed to ensure a clear round.
The victory went to the Belgian rider Thomas Mertens with the Zangersheide stallion Cosimo de Leau Z, a son of Cicero Z and Mr. Blue who was bred by K.I. Hof Ter Leeuwe. Mertens and his grey stallion managed to stop the clock in 61.67 seconds and with that performance they outclassed the competition.
The Dutch rider Hessel Hoekstra jumped to a shared 2nd place with the Oldenburg stallion Stargos VDL, a son of Stakkato Gold and Conthargos who was bred by Winkeler and with whom Hoekstra finished 5th during the second qualifier yesterday. Hoekstra and Stargos VDL managed to reach the finish in 61.86 seconds, but were just not fast enough for victory.
However, Hoekstra and Stargos VDL had to share this 2nd place with the Irish rider Patrick Hickey and the Irish mare Silverteal Indigo, a daughter of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Lux Z who was bred by Paschal McCarthy. They also managed to stop the clock in 61.86 seconds after a flawless round.
Furthermore, during this consolation there were also top 5 placings for the British lady rider Emma Stoker with the Irish mare Comme Ci Comme Ca (Comme Il Faut x Diarado – B: Ken Rehill) and for the Dutch lady rider Roosje Brouwer with the KWPN mare Maribelle (Heathrow x Vleut – B: J. Haandrikman).