Spirit S Z comes 3rd in the CSI2* GP of Wellington

At Wellington International, Florida, they were ready for the 4th week of the famous Winter Equestrian Festival last weekend. After the 3rd place for the American rider Kent Farrington and Toulayna van het Bloesemhof Z (Toulon x Parco - F: Jasper Doucé) during the CSI4* GP the week before, we also got a Zangersheide horse on the GP podium this week. During the CSI2* GP on Sunday, 3rd place went to the American lady rider Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen with the 9-year-old gelding Gideon, a son of Super Trooper de Ness and Corland VDL, who was born at the home of breeder Th. Schaap as Spirit S Z. Cruciotti Vanderveen and Gideon already jumped to a 6th place on Friday during a 1.45m class and were one of the 7 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off during the CSI2* GP. They managed to keep it clear again and so secured a place on the podium.

During that 1.45m class on Friday we did get a blue/yellow victory, thanks to the American lady rider Jacqueline Ruyle with the 12-year-old grey mare Cyramo Z, a daughter of Clarimo ASK and Vigo d'Arsouilles who was bred by the Gebroeders van Helmond. In a jump-off for which 17 combinations were able to qualify, Ruyle and Cyramo Z finished in 40.14 seconds, giving them more than half a second ahead of the competition. A bit further down the ranking, there was also a 7th place for the American lady rider Zayna Rizvi with the 15-year-old mare Exit Of Ice Z (Emilion x Tornado – B: Wim Den Abt). They also managed to keep it clear in the jump-off.

The CSI4* GP was already on the program on Saturday evening and the American lady rider Ashley Vogel managed to deliver a strong performance with the 10-year-old stallion Madiga AG Z (Mylord Carthago x Corland VDL – B: Alex Gisbertz). Vogel and Madiga AG Z managed to keep all the poles in the cups after a strong round, but ran into 1 timefault, so they ultimately had to be satisfied with a 6th place in the ranking.

A few days earlier, Vogel jumped already in the spotlights with the 14-year-old mare Bellissimo Z (Bamako de Muze x Chin Chin – B: Patrick Sebrechts), the former GP horse of vice-Belgian Champion Thibeau Spits. During the 1.45m class on Wednesday, Vogel and Bellissimo Z managed to keep it clear in both the 1st and 2nd phase and this performance earned them a 3rd place in the ranking.

Finally, on Thursday we also saw two Zangersheide horses in the top 10 of the ranking during the 1.55m main class. The 6th place went to the American lady rider Laura Kraut with the 9-year-old mare Bisquetta Squalles Estate Z (Bisquet Balou van de Mispelaere x Takashi van Berkenbroeck – B: Claire McCarthy-Winters) and the 8th place to her compatriot Lillie Keenan with the 14-year-old gelding Queensland E, ex Quinto de la Hamente Z (Quickfire de Ferann x Socrate de Chivre – B: Emmanel Wera). Both managed to keep it clear in both the basic round and the jump-off.