It would be a thrilling final day of competition at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard as Marlon Módolo Zanotelli (BRA) took a brilliant win with the 10-year-old mare Celena VDL (Mr. Blue x Chin Chin).
As the very best horses and riders in the world rounded off a wonderful weekend of top sport, the popular rider took the lion’s share of the €92,000 prize purse - fending off 17 other riders in a nail-biting jump-off.
The sun came out for the final day of action at the spectacular Tops International Arena, as a high-octane race to the finish saw an edge-of-the-seat gallop to the last. Dutch fans had double celebrations as Leopold van Asten (NED) with VDL Groep Miss Untouchable (Chacco-Blue x Aldatus) took a strong second - just tenths behind Zanotelli’s time - and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) with VDL Groep Quatro (Quaprice Bois Margot x Caletto I) finished in third. Maikel's father Eric took care of the fourth place aboard Wunschkind 19 (Casall x Caletto I), securing three Dutch riders in the top five. Jos Verlooy (BEL) closed off the top five on Igor (Emerald van 'T Ruytershof x Nabab de Reve).
A delighted Marlon said of his horse: “She’s amazing, I’m so happy to have a horse like that. I have to thank the VDL team to have a horse like this. It’s a huge win for me, we’re so happy and delighted to have the support of everyone behind us. I walked away and tried not to watch too much, I did what I had to do in the ring and thankfully today it paid off.”
Source: Press release from the LGCT // Picture © Stefano Grasso/LGCT