Victory for Christian Ahlmann with young star in Arezzo
Friday is a day of joy for Christian Ahlmann
from Dominique Wehrmann 
Christian Ahlmann definitely had reason to shine today in Arezzo. Photo: Archive Sportfotos-lafrentz.de That was the nine-year-old Zangersheide stallion Applebridge Tag Z by Aganix du Seigneur. He has – officially – belonged to Zangersheide Stud since 2022. However, he only made his first jumps in international sport in 2024 with the British rider Joe Clee, who took him through the Youngster Tour and showed him successfully up to 1.45 meters. Christian Ahlmann was in the saddle for the first time at the Tournament of Champions in Münster and placed the stallion straight away. They started the new season at the tournament series in the Middle East, where they won a 1.50 meter test in Sharjah, among others. They did the same today.
A total of 100 pairs competed in the most important jumping competition of the day in Arezzo, a 1.50 meter class with jump-off. Just a tenth of the starters remained clear in the round. One rider withdrew. That left nine who competed a second time, this time against the clock. All of them also delivered a flawless result at the obstacles in their second appearance. However, Ahlmann’s Applebridge Tag Z was clearly the fastest of them all with a time of 39.35 seconds.
Top three for Zangersheide
It was not only a triumph for Ahlmann, but above all for the Zangersheide studbook, which also provided the two other top-placed horses in addition to the winner. Second place went to Ireland’s Alexander Butler with the ten-year-old Otangelo-daughter Tequila de Sequoias Z (39.77). Jõao Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima took third place with a time of 40.38 seconds on Kenzo Quality Z, a twelve-year-old Kannan son with whom the Brazilian has also been victorious in five-star competitions.
Nieberg placed
Gerrit Nieberg and the eleven-year-old KWPN mare IB Queen by Quasimodo Z were also among the double clear rounds today. Her time in the jump-off was enough for eighth place.
Benjamin Wulschner had a knockdown with Haddou, as did Maximilian Weishaupt with his successful mare Omerta Incipit, with whom he won DM bronze in 2023 and the Grand Prix of Donaueschingen in 2024. However, the two were still placed, as was Marie Ligges on Ruby Go L.
There were also four faults, but no ribbons for Marie Flick with Ciro.
All other results can be found here.
