Eiken Sato wins the CSI3* Grand Prix!
Lots of sun, a lot of atmosphere and above all a lot of beautiful sport today at our Stud Farm in Lanaken for this final day of the second week of the Z-Tour 2022. With nine classes divided over the three different arenas, it was again a well-filled program today, but everybody was mainly looking forward to the various Grand Prix’s.
The absolute highlight of the day was of course the CSI3* Grand Prix, which took place at the Ratina Z Arena this afternoon just after 2 pm. A total of fifty-three combinations appeared at the start of this 1.50m class and eight of them stayed clear in the basic round and thus qualified for the jump-off. One of these eight was the Japanese rider Eiken Sato with his 15-year-old gelding Chacanno Jra (Chacco Blue x Kannan), with whom he had already finished third in the CSI2* Grand Prix exactly a week ago. Sato reappeared in the ring as the fifth starter in the jump-off and also delivered a flawless performance. He crossed the finish line in 37.75 seconds and thus crowned himself the winner of this CSI3* Grand Prix.
The other two podium places in this Grand Prix both went to a German combination. Second place went to lady rider Angelique Rüsen, who rides for Christian Ahlmann's stable. Rüsen cantered to the finish line with the 12-year-old stallion Atomic Z (Cumano x Chin Chin) in 38.19 seconds, giving the second place a blue/yellow lining. Her compatriot Patrick Stühlmeyer followed in third place with the 11-year-old mare Carmina 51 (Casall). The winners of Friday's 1.50m main class reached the finish line today in 40.09 seconds and so again secured a top ranking.
Eduardo Pereira De Menezes stays ahead of four Belgian riders
Before we started this afternoon with this CSI3* Grand Prix, there was also a 1.45m class on the program. The Belgian delegation again showed a strong appearance, but a new Belgian victory was not possible this time. It was the Brazilian rider Eduardo Pereira De Menezes who became the winner here with the 12-year-old gelding Calypso des Matis (Padock du Plessis x Tresor de Cheux). In this speed class he rushed to the finish line in 55.87 seconds and with that performance he managed to keep four Belgian combinations just behind him.
In second place we saw Andres Vereecke with the 9-year-old mare Noyelle Vd Begijnakker (Kannan x Palestro Vd Begijnakker). Vereecke also managed to keep all the poles in the cups, but it took him 56.16 seconds to reach the finish line. Yves Vanderhasselt followed here in third place in the ranking. Vanderhasselt crossed the finish line in 56.19 seconds and for that he could count on the 11-year-old mare Lelielounka Stw (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Toulon), with whom he had already finished second on Friday during the 1.40m high opening class.
Morning win for Jens Vandenberk
At the Almé Z Arena the final day started this morning with a 1.35m class. In this we did get a Belgian victory thanks to Jens Vandenberk with the 13-year-old grey mare Cynthia Z (Calvados Z x Turbo van het Gestelhof), with whom he has already achieved many good performances in recent weeks and months. In a class against the clock, Vandenberk rushed to the finish in 55.19 seconds and with that he finished just under two full seconds ahead of the competition.
Just like in yesterday's 1.50m high Longines Ranking class, second place went to the French rider Valentin Besnard, who this time had the 8-year-old gelding Eros de Carville (Nippn d'Elle x First de Launay) under the saddle. Besnard managed to set a time of 57.16 seconds. The Belgian rider François Mathy Jr., the winner of yesterday's main class, completed the podium in third place. He sent the 10-year-old gelding Classical de Kreisker (Ugobak des Baleines x Creve Coeu) to the finish in 57.99 seconds.
