20 March '24
Silver for Nimrod de Muze Z in the CSI4* GP of Vejer de la Frontera
© Sportfot
Last week in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, they were ready for the 6th week of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour, where four-star-level showjumping was again taking place. Over the past few weeks, the Zangersheide horses in Vejer have produced some great performances and last weekend some of them again managed to jump into the limelight.
The most striking name was undoubtedly the 13-year-old chestnut gelding Nimrod de Muze Z, a son of Nabab de Rêve and Tinka's Boy from the breeding farm of Eric Polfliet. Nimrod de Muze Z has been a successful combination with Brazilian rider Pedro Veniss for several years now, and that became clear once again last weekend. After Veniss and Nimrod de Muze Z finished 5th in the 1.50m class on Friday, they managed to jump to a podium place in the 1.55m CSI4* GP on Sunday. They were one of the 9 combinations who stayed clear in the basic round and thus managed to qualify for the jump-off. In it, they managed to stay clear again and with a finishing time of 38.32 seconds, they secured2nd place in the standings!
However, Veniss and Nimrod de Muze Z were not the only combination to ensure blue/yellow success at this CSI4* GP, as two other Zangersheide horses also managed to secure a place in the top 10 of the standings. For example, 4th place was reserved for British rider Guy Williams and his 12-year-old stallion Ernie Of Greenhill Z, a son of Emerald Van 't Ruytershof and Caretino bred by Philipp Gysbrechts. Williams and Ernie Of Greenhill Z also kept all the bars in the jump-off and their finishing time of 39.06 seconds eventually earned them 4th place in the standings.
Also in the jump-off we saw Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra and the 11-year-old gelding Van Halen Z, a son of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Canturo who was bred in Germany by Guido Sperveslage and with whom Seabra also finished 6th in the 1.45m class on Thursday during the opening day. Seabra and Van Halen Z managed to stop the clock in 42.89 seconds after a clear barrage round, which in turn was good for 6th place in the standings.
Furthermore, it was also a successful weekend for Danish rider Laura Baaring Kjaergaard with the 9-year-old grey gelding Consult Picobello Z, a breeding product of the Ruant family of Picobello Horses and Jos Lansink who combined the blood of our grey stallion Cicero Z with that of Nabab de Rêve. Baaring Kjaergaard and Consult Picobello finished 4th during the 1.45m class on Friday and during the 1.50m Medium Tour Grand Prix on Sunday they managed to secure 10th place in the standings.
Victory during that 1.45m class on Friday was then taken by Irish rider Richard Howley and the 9-year-old stallion Pandito Van 't Merelsnest Z, a son of Plot Blue and Larino from the Van Bunder family of Stoeterij 't Merelsnest. In both the1st and2nd phases, Howley and Pandito Van 't Merelsnest Z managed to keep the 0 on the scoreboard and with a finishing time of 30.98 seconds, they were more than a full second ahead of the competition.
There were also 2 placings last weekend for Argentinian rider Martin Dopazo with the 12-year-old grey mare Carlina Z (Caristo Z x Berlin - F: Haras Rinconada). They started their competition with a 4th place during the 1.40m class on Thursday and during the 1.40m class on Sunday the duo was still2nd in the standings.
Finally, Belgian rider Marine Scauflair and the 8-year-old gelding Snapschat van de Broekkant Z (Hunter's Scendix x Concorde - F: Inno Lamers) also finished in2nd place. They achieved this top ranking during the 1.40m class on Friday, in which they ensured a flawless performance during both the1st and2nd phases. Pedro Veniss jumped to another 4th place in this class with the 11-year-old stallion Chesterfield Z (Cicero Z x Cassini II - B: Susila Cruyff).