While the seven-year-old horses jumped their consolation this morning in the Ratina Z Arena, the six-year-olds were expected in the Ramiro Z Arena, as they had been in previous days. At 9.30am, the starting signal sounded for this exciting class, in which the fences were built at a height of 1.35m for a direct competition against the clock. With as many as 139 combinations at the start, it was a busy and fiercely fought battle.
The fastest of the 139 combinations at the start was Belgian rider Thian van Hoydonck and the BWP gelding Takashi, a son of Centurio and Cap who was born and raised at Bijloos Stables. Van Hoydonck, who also won the second qualification yesterday with one of his other horses, sped through the finish in 53.10 seconds, more than a full second ahead of the rest of the field.
Irish rider Eoin Brennan, who finished 3rd in the second qualifying round yesterday, managed to place strongly again. Together with the Irish-bred gelding Fernhill SDF Five Star (Big Star x Lux Z - Breeder: Samantha Heaney Fegan) he completed the course in 54.45 seconds, good for a great2nd place and another top result at this World Cup.
Completing the podium was Bas Moerings from the Netherlands, who rode the KWPN mare Ovinia (Ipsthar x I'm Special de Muze - Bred by his family). Their clear round in 55.85 seconds earned them a nice 3rd place in this strong field of competitors.
Like yesterday in the second qualification, Polish rider Tomasz Miskiewicz managed to secure 4th place. Riding the Hanoverian stallion Vodkatini (Viscerado x Graf Top - Breeder: Johann-Christian Eggers Stellenfleth), he recorded a clear round in 57.89 seconds. Finally, 5th place went to Italian rider Filippo Sertori, who put in a strong performance with the BWP mare Ta Belle van 't Heike (Heartbeat x Indoctro - Breeder: Karel Boonen), stopping the clock at 58.09 seconds.
Photo: ©Zangersheide/Sportfot
