This morning, the five-star combinations kicked off in Falsterbo. In the 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier, the competition was run directly against the clock. Riding the 11-year-old daughter of Zinedine, Zasou Vom Claashof, Belgium's Abdel Said claimed victory.
Abdel Said and the 11-year-old Zinedine mare, bred by Stephan Hinrichs, were more than two seconds faster than British rider Sienna Charles with the 15-year-old daughter of Chacco-Blue, Stardust. Charles and the mare bred by Paul Schockemöhle pushed Sean Monaghan with Toyger (by Catwalk IV) into third place.
"I’m really happy with today’s round – this was probably the biggest class I’ve won with Zasou so far," Abdel Said shared. "We've only been working together for a few months, but she was totally with me in the ring today. The course was quick and technical, but she kept thinking along with me. Winning here in Falsterbo means a lot for our partnership."
Just outside the top three, Mel Thijssen finished in the prizes. Thijssen rode the 14-year-old KWPN gelding Grieg S (by Indoctro, breeder: H. Van der Scheer), narrowly beating the time of Peder Fredricson and SV Vroom de la Pomme Z (by Vigo d'Arsouilles).
