Release date: 15/05/2017

The second event at Tops International Arena started this morning with a bright shining sun and three classes for young horses.
 
The seven-year-olds, 54 in total, competed in the grass arena in a Two Phases (Special) class. The top three were all Dutch bred horses. Winner was Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli with the KWPN gelding VDL Friso SMH (Bugatti VDL x Chin Chin). The 28-year-old runs his own stable in Bree/Bocholt together with his wife Angelica Augustsson, and he rides VDL Friso, owned by VDL Stud, since the beginning of this year. “I was here last year too and it is great to be able to start our young horses in such a superb environment. VDL Friso SMH is a very good horse and nice to ride and has done really well so far.”
Runners-up were Emma Augier de Moussac and Brighton Bay (KWPN, Ultimo x Kreator XX), the horse she had first and second places with last year in the six-year-old classes. Just hours before she won the opening class for six-year-olds with her KWPN mare Gradetty (Crespo VDL x Silvio II).
Second was Israel’s Danielle Goldstein with G Vingino Blue (KWPN, Zirocco Blue VDL x Orame) with nearly two seconds difference. Third place went to Belgium’s Katja Haep with Chanita (Holst, Caretino x Contender).
 
Victory in the five-year-olds class went to Australia’s James Paterson-Robinson who rode the KWPN mare Happy Girl (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Jus de Pomme). James, who rides for Waldman Stables, was placed in the top three in all five-year-old’s classes last week. Runners-up were Holland’s Tim Franssen (31) and Clindoeil A Mormoulin (by Diamant de Semilly). Britain’s Mark Armstrong finished in third place with his mare Cinini II JJ Z.

Full results