Sweden's Petronella Andersson and the 13-year-old mare Cassina Z (Casado van'T Gelutt Z x Lux) won Friday night's CSI5*-W 1.55m Sport Vlaanderen Grand Prix at the 2023-edition of Jumping Mechelen. 

With a time of 37.12 in the jump-off between nineteen horse-and-rider-combinations, the Swede spoiled a Belgian party when taking the win ahead of Thibeau Spits (BEL) and Foncetti v. Heffinck (For Pleasure x Concetto) who had to settle for the runner-up spot in 37.87. 

Matthew Sampson (GBR) and Daniel (Heartbreaker x San Patrignano Mister) placed third in 38.44, while Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Cyra Z (Casimo x Balougran) finished fourth in 39.17, followed by Gilles Thomas (BEL) and Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan) in fifth in 39.81.

“This competition is important for the entire Stephex-team and our owner Stephan Conter. We are all here as a team, so this feels like a collective victory," Petronella Andersson said in a press release from Jumping Mechelen. 

“She is one of the horses I have had in my stable for the longest time," Andersson said about her winning ride, the 13-year-old mare Cassina. "I knew she was very fast, but she can become too fast if I push her too much. It almost went wrong on the last double, but she jumped in for me. Cassina is a Belgian horse, so I’m sure there were several people in the audience rooting for her. The atmosphere was fantastic.”

"Almost the whole company was there to cheer us on," Andersson told World of Showjumping. "Mechelen nearly feels like a home show for us. Also, having Kendra in the top six is a great result, it was a great win for the whole Stephex team. A big thank you goes to Stephan for keeping horses for the sport for us."