By Jenneke Smit / KWPN
Photography: Digishots

After the selection competitions in Kronenberg, De Meern, Ermelo, and Exloo, the finals of the Blom and Anemone Horse Trucks Stallion Competitions are just around the corner. During the KWPN Stallion Show in Den Bosch it will become clear whether the leaders of the standings may turn their top position into an overall win.

Watch the KWPN Stallion Competitions Finals live on KWPN.TV

All entries furthermore compete for the day victory, allowing for a larger group of stallions to compete in the final.
Crowds flocked to the selection competitions and many enthusiasts followed the Blom and Anemone Horse Trucks Stallion Competitions via the livestream. For the first time in three years, the finals can be watched first-hand at the KWPN Stallion Show in Den Bosch on February 2 and 4.

Solid performances

A unique situation arose in the jumping discipline, for in both the M- and Z/ZZ classes the same combination triumphed in all three competitions. As a result, the rising seven-year-old Kentucky TMS Z (Kannan - Elite van Prinsenveld x Toulon, bred/owned by Tal Milstein of Asse, Belgium) under Maikel van der Vleuten, and his one-year-junior Stargos VDL (Stakkato Gold - Estella sport-spr x Conthargos, bred by W. Winkler of Herlake, Germany) under Iris Hakvoort unanimously top the intermediate rankings.
A remarkable fact is that Kentucky TMS Z secured his first victory in Kronenberg merely days after being granted his breeding license. He passed his 21-day performance test in Ermelo with flying colours as he was registered with an 82-point total. He received a 9.0 for his attitude and showcased why in each of his performances in the Blom Stallion Competition. Kentucky TMS Z displayed his cooperative mindset in his very first jump-off with Maikel as the two sped to the fastest zero-fault result. “I had never ridden a fast round with him prior to this day, so the fact he is so willing is a testimony to his natural aptitude. He has cleared so many courses throughout the season and that is a crucial quality. He has a great mindset and is sharp by nature,” Maikel van der Vleuten enthuses after his first victory with the stallion of Tal Milstein, Kees van den Oetelaar and Van der Vleuten Stables.
Two stallions of Hendrix Stables are currently ranked second and third in the standings after three selection rounds. Ridden by Pieter Keunen, both his homebred Lambrusco (Entertainer - Total Touch stb-ext pref prest x Lux) and Lambada Shake AF (Aganix du Seigneur - Grappa AG x Spartacus, breeder Alex Gisbertz of Beek) of co-owners Jan van Meever of Meerkerk and Joy Lammers of Hamont, left a lasting impression... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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