‘Saladin S’, ‘Danubios’ and ‘Charisme de la Marchette’, the winners of the Young Horse Finals

Tomorrow we celebrate the eight year old Final and the new CSI4* starts up

What an intense and exciting day here at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour, kindly sponsored by the Junta de Andalucía, through the Consejería de Turismo and Andalucía Exterior, and the Diputación Provincial de Cádiz; with the celebration of the Young Horse Finals for the 5, 6 and 7 year olds.

The first of the Finals was the 6yr olds which was set at 1.30 and had more than 100 horses participating. There was an amazing 42 horses that went through to the jump off which was really competitive. In the end one of the horses that we have regularly seen, indeed four times on the podium over these three weeks and with a total of five clears, was our eventual winner. Stopping the clock in a mere 42.33s the stallion, ’Danubios’, who is by  ‘Canturano’ x ‘Nabab de Reve’ and who is owned by Luigi Iriu, was steered to victory by the Italian rider, Francesco Correddu.  Francesco told us that: ‘He jumped fantastic, he’s a really talented horse’ he went on to say that he had brought the horse here to allow him to grow up across the three weeks of competition and that he hopes to take him to Aachen later in the year; ‘I really enjoy riding this horse he’s amazing!’

In second place in 42.68s was ‘Pennywise’, who is by‘Presley Boy’, owned by Yeguada Valbanera, and ridden by the Spanish, Kevin González de Zárate. Close on their heels was ‘Crossriver Lackavrea’ (‘Phil V/D Wezelse Heihoeve’ x ‘Askoll Peter Pan’), owned by Walter Butler and ridden by Irish, Nicholas Butler and in fourth was ‘Plot Pearl Zaeta JL’ (‘Plot Blue’ x ‘Balou’), ridden by German, Maximilian Lill and owned by Ballywalter Stables and Lill Sporthorses. In fifth was ‘Cosmiq Lilly’ (‘Million Dollar’ x ‘Lordanos’), owned by Mikko Hiltunen, with the Dutch rider, Britt Van Erp.

At noon was the seven year old Final, kindly sponsored by Ashford Farm, with 73 horses, of which 15 went through in to the jump off. The winner of this class was the stallion, ‘Saladin S’, who is by ‘Ducati VH Schuttershof’ x ‘Cash’, owned by Jozef Hens and Marc Van Dijck, and ridden by Gilles Thomas. Giles told us; ‘-We bred him and I also rode other horses from the same mother ’T-Usambara’, one of those was ‘Konak' my first 5 star grand prix horse. So he’s a special horse from me right from the beginning and its nice that now we start to jump very well, and slowly build him up here over the three weeks and now in the Final win it, so its all very nice’.

‘Saladin S’ and Gilles, stopped the clock in the Hickstead grass arena in 37.66s and survived a late challenge from ‘Narado’ (‘Grandorado TN’ x ‘Purioso’ from the JAM Stables) of 38.36s with the Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen; in third was ‘Spice Girl – K Van Kattenheye’ (‘Apardi’ x ‘Taloubet Z’ from the Ecuerie Francois Mathy and PR Sporthorses SRL) ridden by Brazilian, Joao Victor Castro; in fourth was ‘Hamos Z’ (‘Halifax Van Het Kluizebos’ x ‘Cicero Z’ from  Everse Horses) with another Dutch rider Roosje Brouwer and in fifth was ‘Slim Fit VD Heffinck’, also owned by the Ballywalter Stables, this time with Irish rider, Harry Allen.

The five year old Final had 43 horses and was won by ‘Charisme de la Marchette’ who is by ‘Chaccoon Blue’ x ‘Baloubet de Rouet’, owned by Gregory Wathelet and ridden by the French rider, Valentin Pacaud. He told us that ‘-the horse has a lot of power and for him it (the Final course) was not a problem’. 

In second place was ‘Casamax’ (‘Casall’ x ‘Corrado I’) owned by Signe Ostby’ and ridden by Belgian, Anaella Alfano. In third was ‘Quality de Toxandria Z’, who is by ‘Querido VG’ and also from the Yeguada Valbanera, ridden by Spanish, Mario Peña Sánchez. Fourth was ‘Eurekam’ from Mario Manca with the Italian rider Francesco Correddu and in fifth was ‘Queen du Roi’, who is by ‘Klasall’ and from the Centro Hípico Da Guía and Hugo Tavares (POR) who was also the rider.

Today was the last day of jumping for the eight year olds before tomorrow’s Final. The winner was ‘Serafina DBH Z’ with French rider Alix Ragot. Second was ’Hiron D’Elle’ with Swedish, Alexander Zetterman; ‘Gwendolyn’ was third with the German rider,  Helmut Schönstetter; ‘Vayrie’, was fourth with Bulgarian, Konstantin Van Damme and in fifth was ‘Joplin’ also ridden by Helmut Schönstetter.

Tomorrow, as well as the highly anticipated eight year old Final, we start up a new CSI4*which will run until Sunday the 23rd of February.