Simolo De La Roque Z wins the CSI3* GP of Vilamoura

While on Belgian soil all our attention was focused on the first edition of The Zangersheide International in Opglabbeek, there were of course also many other international shows on the program and here too a few Zangersheide horses managed to ensure some strong performances.

On the Atlantic Tour of Vilamoura, Portugal, for example, there was another GP victory for Luxembourg rider Victor Bettendorf and his 11-year-old grey gelding Simolo de La Roque Z, a son of Spartacus TN and Casall who was bred in France by Top Stallions Company. Bettendorf and Simolo de La Roque Z won the CSI3* GP of Oliva in December and were in top form again last weekend. After they already became 2nd on Friday during the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class, they became the winners of the CSI3* GP on Sunday. In a jump-off for which 7 combinations were able to qualify, they stayed clear again and with a time of 35.34 seconds they were just under half a second ahead of the competition.

Victor Bettendorf: “I am really happy with this victory. Last week we also managed to qualify for the jump-off, but then I took a bit too much risk. Simolo has a strong character and the first show after a short break he’s always a bit impressed.”

Next to Simolo de La Roque Z, two other Zangersheide horses managed to qualify for the jump-off during this CSI3* GP. The 4th place went to the British rider Guy Williams with the also 11-year-old stallion Ernie Of Greenhill Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Caretino - B: Philip Gysbrechts). They also managed to keep it clear in that jump-off. The French lady rider Alexa Ferrer took 7th place with the 12-year-old mare Arka de La Hart Z (Arko III x Kashmir Van Schuttershof – B: Kevis and Maïte Maus).

During the 1.35m class on Friday, the British rider Izac Ketteridge secured a podium place with the 10-year-old gelding Chapon Van de Heffinck Z, a son of our grey stallion Cabrio Z and Quite Easy who was bred by the Hamerlinck family. The duo kept it clear in both the 1st and 2nd phase and this performance was good for 2nd place in the ranking.

A day earlier there was also a 2nd place for the Brazilian rider Bernardo Alves with the 11-year-old chestnut mare Vigo's Flip de Muze Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Robin I Z – B: Joris De Brabander), a daughter of Malin Baryard-Johnsson’s legendary mare H&M Butterfly Flip. Alves and Vigo's Flip de Muze Z appeared at the start during the 1.40m class and kept all the poles in the cups.

During the classes for the 6-year-old horses, the British rider Ronnie Jones managed to jump into the picture with the stallion Conradoc II Proosthof Z, a breedingproduct of Gapall Geysen L.v. Proosthof who combines the blood of our stallions Comilfo Plus Z and Cicero Z. Jones and Conradoc II Proosthof Z jumped to a 3rd place on Wednesday and a day later they secured victory!