Otterongo Alpha Z wins the CSI5* GP of Riyadh

Christian Ahlmann and our 9-year-old chestnut stallion Otterongo Alpha Z made history again last weekend! A few weeks after they won already a 1.45m class during the Longines Global Champions Tour of Riyadh, they have now also managed to win their first CSI5* GP in Riyadh.

Ahlmann and Otterongo Alpha Z, a son of Darco and Hedjaz who was bred by Jozef Poets, have already performed strongly in recent weeks and months and that good form has been confirmed once again in recent days. After they already managed to achieve a 4th place during the CSI4* GP the week before, they were one of only 3 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off during the tough CSI5* GP on Saturday evening. In that jump-off, the successful duo once again delivered a flawless performance and with a finishing time of 33.88 seconds they had exactly half a second ahead of the competition.

However, this victory during the CSI5* GP was not the only highlight of the weekend for Christian Ahlmann, who celebrated his 49th birthday yesterday. The German rider also played a leading role during the FEI World Cup on Friday evening. This time he appeared in the ring with the 13-year-old chestnut gelding Classic Dream (Colestus) and after a double clear round, Ahlmann managed to take the 2nd place in the rankings.

Another combination that stood out again was the Japanese rider Mike Kawai with the 10-year-old mare Promise Z, a daughter of Gestion Priamus Z and Graf Grannus who was bred by Jonna Sundblad and with whom Kawai finished 3rd during the CSI4 *GP the week before. Kawai and Promise Z jumped to a 7th place during the FEI World Cup on Friday and a day later they finished 6th during the CSI5* GP. In both classes they incurred 4 penalty points in the basic round.

Furthermore, the Swedish lady rider Antonia Pettersson Häggström was also placed twice with the 12-year-old mare Zara de Laubry Z, a daughter of Zandor Z and Chin Chin who was bred by the Haelterman family of Haras De Laubry. They started their show with a 9th place during the 1.50m class on Thursday and during the CSI5* GP they achieved a 10th place.

Finally, there was also success in Riyadh for the blood of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z, thanks to the Thai lady rider Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj and her 11-year-old chestnut mare Maxwin Kinmar Agalux, a daughter of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Lux ​​Z, who was bred by Gerrard Marron. Karunayadhaj and Maxwin Kinmar Agalux finished 9th at the FEI World Cup and achieved a 5th place during the CSI5* GP.