Rolf-Göran Bengtsson’s 2024 Olympic partner Zuccero HV (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caretino) will in the future be seen with Germany’s Maximilian Weishaupt. Zuccero HV has been in the ownership of the Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH, but through Ludger Beerbaum a sponsor has now secured the sport rights to the stallion. The acquisition of the sports rights will allow Zuccero HV to compete in the Global Champions League-series for the team Riesenbeck International together with Maximilian Weishaupt, the Holsteiner Verband explained in a press release. 

With Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson in the saddle, the now 13-year-old stallion impressed in his championship debut at the 2023 FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan, Italy, contributing to the Swedish team gold and finishing 11th individually. The pair also flew the Swedish flag at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. In their last international competition together, back in February this year, the two won the CSIO5* 1.60m Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

“After five incredible years together, Zuccero HV has now left our stable to begin a new chapter with his new rider Maximilian Weishaupt,” Bengtsson wrote on social media. “Of course, I had hoped to keep Zuccero longer and to share more major championships together. But today, above all, I feel gratitude – for the time we had, for everything we experienced, and for all the memories we created"

“Together, we won three Grand Prix classes – in Uggerhalne, in Neumünster, and at our final show in Abu Dhabi. We won team gold at the European Championships in Milan, Italy and placed eleventh individually. We represented Sweden at the Olympic Games in Paris, and after fantastic first rounds, we were first reserves for the individual final. Even though our journey came to an end before we truly had the chance to reach our full potential, what matters most is that I had the privilege of working with such a great horse. Zuccero is not only incredibly talented, but he also has a truly unique and special personality. Thank you for everything, Zuccero, you are missed. Now I wish Maximilian all the best and great success with this exceptional horse.”

“Rolf did a fantastic job with Zuccero,” Felix Flinzer from the Holsteiner Verband said in a press release as they announced the news of Zuccero’s new rider. “I would like to thank him for that and wish Zuccero’s new rider a lot of success.”