Release date: 21/05/2018

The six-year-olds opened the first day of the second event at Tops International. Canadian Braden James won this Two Phases (1.30m) class with his KWPN mare Haley (v. Quality Time TN). Braden James recently moved to the Netherlands and divides his time between his own trading stable in the Netherlands and Alan Waldman’s stable in Germany. In 2016 Braden participated  in the World Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken with four horses when he was working for German top rider Christian Ahlmann. “Haley has not much experience yet. Before she came to my stable, four months ago, she competed at M-level,” says Braden about the mare. “She has grown very fast although she has a special character. She knows everything best, she is a bit headstrong,” Braden smiles. “But she is very powerful and careful. I hope to ride her for a long time, she has the qualities to jump in the big classes.” Runners-up were Ireland’s Tom Slattery and Hauform (KWPN, Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Hamlet) followed by Jos Verlooy and Emera Z (Zang., Emerald van ‘t Ruytershof) for Belgium.
 
Victory in the class for five-year-olds went to Denmark’s Shannon Meinert Ketterle and her Zangersheide stallion El Capone Landzicht Z (Elvis ter Putte x Hornet Rose). The 24-year-old Shannon runs her own stables in Lille Skensved and is specialized in training young horses. As a Junior she won a silver team medal at the European Championships with George. Belgium’s Laetitia Surin finished runner-up with Odyssee des Vergers Z. Ireland’s Conor McMahon, who won one of the three classes for five-year-olds, took third place with Iris.
 
Top rider Bertram Allen took, as he did last week, first place with Go To Fortuna (KWPN, Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Vancouver) in the Two Phases for seven-year-olds. Bertram has high expectation for the gelding, which he is riding since the summer of 2017. Former world number one and current leader in the Longines Global Champions Tour, Scott Brash, finished runner-up with Hello Franklin (AES, Billy Mexico x Goodtimes). Third place went to Shanghai Longines Global Champions Tour leg winner Gregory Wathelet and the Holsteiner stallion Carleyle for Belgium.
 
Full results