Z-horses deliver strong performances in Arezzo

During the second week of the Tuscany Tour at the Arezzo Equestrian Centre, numerous combinations once again competed in various international classes. The Z-horses were again well represented and showed their best side on several occasions. Scattered throughout the weekend, they delivered great performances that resulted in many top placings.

One of those horses that managed to jump into the limelight was the 13-year-old gelding Davinci Z, a son of Dutch Capitol Z and Aquilino who was bred in the Netherlands by De Claesstraete Stables. Davinci Z forms a combination with Dutch rider Bart Bles and together they managed to win prizes twice last weekend. After a clear round and ^15th place in the 1.40m class on Friday, they scored a podium place in the 1.45m Silver Tour Final on Sunday, a class that also counted towards the Longines Ranking. Both in the basic round and the jump-off, Lips and Davinci Z could not find any fault and this performance earned them a great^2nd place.

Also on Sunday, Lips' compatriot Sjoerd Kommers also managed a podium place with the 11-year-old mare l'Alize Z, a daughter of l'Arc de Triomphe and Quattro B from the breeding farm of Harald Gassen in Germany. Kommers and l'Alize Z competed in the 1.40m class of the Gold Tour on Sunday morning, in which they managed to secure ^3rd place after a double clear round. Furthermore, Kommers also had a strong weekend with the 9-year-old grey mare Apart Z, a daughter of Aktion Pur Z and Asca Z who was born with us at Stoeterij Zangersheide. Kommers and Apart Z started their competition week on Thursday with a^2nd place in the 1.40m class of the Silver Tour and a day later they managed to add a ^3rd place to their record during another 1.40m class.

During that 1.40m class on Thursday, we also saw a second Z-horse on the podium thanks to Irish rider Jack Ryan and the 9-year-old mare Soblensky vh Scheefkasteel Z, a daughter of Sir Obolensky Z and Diamant de Semilly bred by Johan Hubrechts. Ryan and Soblensky vh Scheefkasteel Z also kept nicely clear in both the^1st and^2nd phases, giving them a final ^3rd place. Young German rider Mick Haunhorst followed just off the podium in ^4th place with the 8-year-old mare Lily-Rose JT de la Limite Z (Luigi d'Eclipse x Lancaster V - B: Justine Thiry).

Furthermore, it was also a fruitful weekend for Italian rider Roberto Turchetto with the 10-year-old gelding Asjemenou Sr Z, a son of Andiamo Z and Carthago Z bred in the Netherlands by Keystud / E & MJ Sleutels. Turchetto and Asjemenou Sr Z jumped to a fine^2nd place in the 1.40m class from the Gold Tour on Friday morning and a day later they confirmed that fine performance by claiming ^6th place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test.

Besides the^2nd place for Turchetto and Asjemenou Sr Z, we also saw two other Z horses at the top of the rankings during that 1.40m-high Gold Tour on Thursday. For example, ^5th place was reserved for his compatriot Neri Pieraccini with the 9-year-old stallion Look-O-Look Z (Le Blue Diamond van 't Ruytershof x Thunder vd Zuuthoeve - F: Robin Michelle Klootwijk), while Israeli rider Robin Muhr took ^6th place with and 8-year-old mare Chess Vh Dingeshof Z (Chacoon Blue x Tornedo FCS - B: Jaak Vermeulen).

On Friday afternoon, however, a second 1.40m class from the Gold Tour was also on the programme in Arezzo and in it too we saw a Z-horse shine in the top 3 of the standings. That honour went to Macedonian rider Luka Zaloznik with the 9-year-old gelding Echo's Way Z, a son of Echo van 't Spieveld and Clearway bred by none other than Niels Bruynseels. They too kept it neatly clear twice, which also earned them a ^3rd place in the standings.

Finally, there were also two other combinations who managed to jump into the prizes twice in Arezzo last weekend. For example, Belgian rider Arnaud Gaublomme and the 9-year-old gelding Didam Van 't Schaap Z (Denzel van 't Meulenhof x Heartbreaker - B: Maurice Van De Walle) finished ^7th in the 1.40m class on Thursday and ^6th in the 1.45m-high Silver Tour Final on Sunday, while Danish rider Kamilla Ladefoged Rasmussen and the 15-year-old grey gelding Chico Z (Clinton I x Quantum - B: L.H.M. Sneijers) started their competition with a ^6th place during the 1.45m class on Thursday and finished ^8th during the 1.45m-high Longines Ranking Test on Saturday.