Release date: 18/08/2020

There were two more semi-finals at Tops International for the Blom Cup: for the four and seven-year-old KWPN horses.

Four-year-olds: Ladykiller
Over 100 four-year-old horses competed in the semi-final of the Blom Cup. The best 25 combinations qualified for the final and today Ladykiller (by Balou du Rouet), ridden by Zoi Snel, received the highest scores.
The judges during this semi-final were Maikel van der Vleuten and Marcel Beukers. “We saw a good lead group and the differences between the 25 finalists were not very big. There was a clear average group with horses that still lacked some experience. It has been, of course, an exceptional season and in this arena there is a lot to see for the young horses,” said inspector Marcel Beukers.
Ladykiller (Balou du Rouet out of Doutzen stb by Clinton, breeders Gebroeders Bosch from Luttenberg), owned by J. Schuttert from Ommen, scored a 8.5 for jumping and a 8.2 for rideability. The stallion was presented by Zoi Snels. The Cape Coral RBF Z offspring Lucifer JDV (out of Cantate Z by Calvin Z, breeder Jean Dresen from Valkenburg), owned by HX Breeding from Kessel, finished runner-up with Sophie Hinners with a 8.3 for jumping and a 8.5 for rideability. Third place went to the sturdy Luka-Cara (Akarad Hero Z out of Vera Cara sport-spr prest by Casco, breeder H.W.M. Hekking from Raalte) ridden by Rianne Nalis.
The following KWPN approved stallions qualified for the Final: Lambada Shake AG Z (Aganix du Seigneur out of Grappa AG by Spartacus, breeder Alex Gisbertz from Beek) who was presented by Tim van den Oetelaar, Love Connects (Connect out of Hello Twiggy elite IBOP-spr D-OC by Quality Time, breeder Wilma Braat-Brummelkamp from Wenum Wiesel) with Megan Laseur and Levi VDL (Arezzo VDL out of Erusa ster EPTM-spr D-OC by Diamant de Semilly, breeder E. Reyrink from Diessen) under Alex David Gill.

Seven-year-olds: four approved stallions qualified
The Biscayo son Icarus V had the best result in the semi-final of the Blom Cup after two rounds with Ruben Romp. The best 20 combinations qualified for the Final.
The seven-year-olds again jumped a nice challenging course in the main arena. Six combinations managed to stay clear during both rounds and today Ruben Romp clocked the fastest time in the Two Phases class with Icarus V (Biscayo out of Carentina by Caretino, breeder M. Verschoor from Haarle) owned by Rinus Blom and Robert Muntel. Thus the main sponsor of the KWPN Championships presented first prize to his own horse. Runner-up was Olivier van der Vaart with the Indoctro mare Ina Zeldenrust sport-spr (out of Wefarina by Radisson), owned by breeder A. van Oversteeg from Sprang-Capelle. Marwin van den Nieuwenhuijzen took third prize with the Elvis ter Putte offspring Ikigai (out of Okori-Retti prest by Iroko) owned by Martien and Frans Burgers from Moergestel. This horse won the VSN-Trophy four years ago.
No less than four KWPN approved stallion finished within the top 20: Incanto VDL (Kannan out of Donnalina ster pref PROK by Indoctro, breeder Gebroeders Lohuis from Nijverdal) with James Billington, Bas Moerings with Ipsthar (Denzel van ’t Meulenhof out of Vestha stb prest by Farmer, breeder Jan Moerings from Oud-Gastel), Patrick van der Schans will ride the powerful Investment I.B. (Kannan out of Reggae elite sport-spr pref prest PROK by Emilion, breeder G.J.H. Markhorst-van de Velde from Brucht) and also Alex David Will will compete in the final with his stallion competition winner Inaico VDL (Indoctro out of Beach Quella by Baloubet du Rouet, breeder J. Aegten from Bocholt).

(source: KWPN)