Zodiak du Buisson Z triumphs in the CSI5* GP of Coapexpan!

Last weekend no five-star competition on European soil, but on the other side of the ocean there was competition at the very highest level. One of the prestigious venues was the Club Hípico in Coapexpan, Mexico, where victory in the CSI5* Grand Prix coloured blue and yellow.

Making sure of that was Irish rider Richard Howley with the 9-year-old grey stallion Zodiak du Buisson Z, a son of Zirocco Blue VDL and Dutch Capitol, bred in the Netherlands by Haras du Buisson. Howley and Zodiak du Buisson Z were among the five combinations who stayed clear in the basic round, qualifying for the jump-off. In the jump-off they repeated their clear performance and with an impressive finishing time of 40.74 seconds they took the win, almost a full second ahead of the competition.

But Howley and Zodiak du Buisson Z were not the only ones to ensure a Zangersheide victory on the beautiful Coapexpan turf. In the 1.50m main class on Friday, it was home rider Carlos Hank Guerreiro who took victory with his 10-year-old gelding H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z, a son of Picasso Z and Ogano Sitte, bred by Christophe Wouters and Frank Fory. Out of the 16 combinations that qualified for the jump-off, Guerreiro and H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z were one of the combinations that again went clear and with a time of 36.87 seconds, they were just under a full second ahead. Moreover, the duo also confirmed their strong form with a ^5th place in the CSI5* Grand Prix.

But Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya also had a successful weekend in Coapexpan with the 9-year-old chestnut gelding Brazilia DK Z, a breeding product of EARL Haras d'Ick, which combines the blood of By Ceira d'Ick and Argentinus. Alvarez Moya started the competition strongly with a ^4th place in the 1.45m class on Thursday and achieved a handsome ^3rd place in the 1.50m main class on Friday. After a clear jump-off, they managed to cross the finish line in 38.52.

In addition, Christian Ahlmann also did not let himself down in this 1.50m class on Friday. He counted on the 9-year-old stallion Dourkhan Hero Z, a son of Sea Coast Don't Touch Tiji Hero and Zandor Z, from the breeding farm of Luc Henry. Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z stayed clear in both the basic round and the jump-off, resulting in a nice sixth place.

GP silver for Dawa de Greenbay Z

Besides the CSI5* competition, there was also jumping at two-star level in Coapexpan. In the CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday, Belgian rider Zoë Conter secured a podium place with the 12-year-old gelding Dawa de Greenbay Z, a son of Diarado and Schilling, bred by Stephane Chantot. Conter and Dawa de Greenbay Z qualified as one of 10 combinations for the jump-off and finished in 38.32 seconds after a clear round. This fine performance earned them a creditable^2nd place in the standings.