The Grand Prix Renault et de la Ville de Versailles was a Titan battle between some of the best riders in the world. But the KWPN bred Arrayan and the KWPN recognized stallion Emerald N.O.P. rose above the participants field and took the win and second place. A nice disclosure in the ‘small Grand Prix’ of Versailles.

Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya and Arrayan (Baloubet du Rouet out of Grandezza stb prest by Grannus), that is bred by Benny Wezenberg from Jjsselmuiden, seems to be merging one win to the other. After a well deserved fifth place in the World Cup final in Omaha an April, this was their first show again. Last winter-season, the Baloubet du Rouet-son stood on the Grand Prix podium in Wellington twice. This time it was the win for the twelve-year-old gelding. In a time of 36,21 seconds his strike was more then obvious. This was over two seconds quicker than the runner-up.

Success on European grounds  

The Olympic pair Harrie Smolders – Emerald N.O.P. (Diamant de Semilly out of Carthina Z s.Carthago, breeder Bert van den Branden from Sint-Niklaas) was in topform as well Versailles. After his strong results in the Global Champions tour at Miami Beach the second place in the Renault Grand Prix of Versailles a beautiful success on European soil. in 38,21 seconds Smolders and the always impressicevely jumping Emerald N.O.P. were quicker than his direct competitors, Alberto Zorzi, Daniel Deusser and  Malin Baryard-Johnsson.

Brighton and Foster

Another KWPN horse also went well in Versailles. Brighton (ex Beegien SFN ster, Contendro II out of Van Ed keur IBOP-spr sport-spr s.Quick Star, breeders Ed and Ineke Santing from Wapenveld) who was ridden by Canadian rider Tiffany Foster. The gelding, that is eleven this year, speeded to the second place in a 1,50m-class in Versailles. This class was won by Julien Epaillard and the Kannan-son Toupie de la Roque.

PW/YBF for KWPN