It was thrilling sport in Friday’s Sires of the World at Zangersheide. The audience had flocked en masse to see the 61 stallions at work in this Grand Prix over a height of 1m50. Eventually there were 20 combinations that qualified for the jump-off. The first starter, Dayro Arroyave, immediately took the lead with a clear round in 42.68 seconds with Iceman de Muze (Erco van 't Roosakker x For Pleasure). They would eventually end in 8th place. One combination later, Christian Ahlmann entered the arena with the 9-year-old Take a Chance On Me Z (Taloubet Z x Aldatus Z). He immediately showed that his chestnut stallion clearly inherited the speed of his father and set the time-to-beat in 38.45 seconds. In the end, there was no other combination that managed to top off this incredible jump-off. "Take a Chance On Me Z starts to look more and more like his father Taloubet Z," Ahlmann says. "I've been riding him since the beginning and he's been getting better and better. This year we already finished second in the Longines Global Champions Tour in Valkenswaard, fifth during CSI4* Munster and sixth and seventh during the CSI4* of Wiesbaden. In addition, we achieved several top 10 rankings in CSI5* Chantilly and CSI5* Estoril. If everything continues like this, you will certainly see him in action during the upcoming World Cup season! "

Olivier Philippaerts came closest with Cigaret JVH Z (Clinton x Kannan), also a 9-year-old Zangersheide bred son. They finished second in 39.87 seconds. The third place went to the Brazilian Marlon Modolo Zanotelli. He stopped the clock in 40.57 seconds with Icarus, a 10-year-old Douglas VDL son. The fourth place went again to Christian Ahlmann, this time with Colorit. He finished his jump-off in 41.25 seconds with the 15-year-old son of Coriano Z. Kiristian Houwen closed the top five. He recorded a time of 41.64 seconds with Edinburgh, a 9-year-old son of Vleut.