Belgium's Patrick Spits was Thursday's dominating force in the first qualification of the FEI World Breeding Championship for 7-year-old horses at Zangersheide, Lanaken. Riding his mare Belissimo Z, Spits took the victory in the first round of the championship and with Jacobien Dwerse Hagen the Belgian rider finished third. Bulgary's Rossen Raitchev and Csf Mr Kroon finished as runners-up.

A total of 63 competitors out of a field of 189 horse-rider combinations kept a clean sheet over both phases of the 1.40m track for the 7-year-olds. Patrick Spits gave it a great go on Bellissimo Z and finished in 27.89 seconds with the daughter of Bamako de Muze – the son of Darco and half-brother of the famous Mylord Carthago. Rossen Raitchev came closest with his gelding Csf Mr Kroon, who is Irish bred and sired by the Burggraaf-son Kroongraaf. Spits and Jacobien Dwerse Hagen, a daughter of Heartbreaker-son Va-Vite, ended up third in 28.76 seconds.

France's Max Thirouin and Jewel van de Kwakenbeek were on the right track as well and finished fourth in 28.84 seconds. Jewel is sired by Cicero Z – the top producer with no less than five of his offspring competing in the championship for 7-year-olds. Belgium's Koen Vereecke took the fifth spot with Jativia, sired by Olympic silver team medalist Cardento.

Dutch on top in championships for 6-year-olds

The Dutch riders were on fire in today's first qualifier of the FEI World Breeding Jumping Championship for 6-year-old horses. Kevin Olsmeyer took the lead of the standings with Ferdinand (Viceroy T x Voltaire), after clearing the second phase in 29.27 seconds. Maikel van Mierlo, double world champion with his former mount Earley, finished in the runner-up position with the short named F (Baltic VDL x Chin Chin) in a time of 29.71 seconds. Willem Greve showed last year's bronze medalist Formidable again and settled in third position currently. Formidable is a daughter of Willem Greve's stunning stallion Carambole N.O.P.

Out of 228 5-year-old showjumpers participating today in the first qualifier of the world championship, 111 finished on a clear. Among these 111 no less than seven horses were sired by the world's leading stallion Diamant de Semilly.

Text © World of Showjumping by Peter van der Waaij // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson.