It was thrilling sport yesterday in the Sires of the World! The audience had flocked en masse to see the 61 stallions at work in this €25,100 Grand Prix over a height of 1.50m. Eventually there were 20 combinations that qualified for the jump-off. The first starter, Dayro Arroyave (COL), immediately took the lead with a clear round in 42.68 seconds aboard Iceman de Muze (Erco van ‘t Roosakker x For Pleasure). They would eventually end in 8th place.

Christian Ahlmann (GER) & Take a Chance on Me Z

One combination later, Christian Ahlmann (GER) entered the arena with the 9-year-old bay Zangersheide stallion Take A Chance on Me Z (Taloubet Z x Aldatus Z). He immediately showed that his chestnut stallion clearly inherited the speed of his father and set the time-to-beat in 38.45 seconds. In the end, there was no other combination that managed to top off this incredible jump-off. “Take A Chance on Me Z starts to look more and more like his father Taloubet Z,” Ahlmann says.

Christian Ahlmann (GER) & Take a Chance on Me Z

“I’ve been riding him since the beginning and he’s been getting better and better. This year we already finished second in the Longines Global Champions Tour in Valkenswaard, fifth during Munster CSI 4* and sixth and seventh during the CSI 4* of Wiesbaden. In addition, we achieved several top 10 rankings in Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) of Chantilly CSI 5* and Estoril CSI 5*. If everything continues like this, you will certainly see him in action during the upcoming World Cup season! “

Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) came closest with Cigaret JVH Z (Clinton x Kannan), also a 9-year-old Zangersheide bred son. They finished second with no penalties in 39.87 seconds.

Top 3: 2-Olivier Philippaerts (BEL), 1-Christian Ahlmann (GER), 3-Marlon Zanotelli (BRA)

Third place went to Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) after having no penalties attributed to them and stopping the timers in 40.57 seconds aboard Icarus, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (Douglas VDL x Sioux de Baugy).

Judy-Ann Melchior (organizer of the event) congratulates her husband for the victory

Fourth place went again to Christian Ahlmann (GER), this time with Colorit (Coriano x Capitol). He finished his jump-off in 41.25 seconds with the 15-year-old son of Coriano Z. Kiristian Houwen closed the top five. He registered a time of 41.64 seconds with Edinburgh, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Vleut x Darco).

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release by Nathalie de Martin for Zangersheide

Photos: © Zangersheide / Paardenfotograaf