The first jumping leg started at 12.00hrs Dutch time and for the Egyptian rider Mouda Zeyada it meant a strong start. The ten-year-old Galanthos SHK finished with merely one time penalty.  

Aboard Galanthos SHK (Arthos R out of Canta B elite EPTM-spr PROK by Cantos, bred by Shakira Stables in Nijkerk), the 26-year-old Mouda Zeyada encountered no problems in the first course, counting towards the individual rankings. The chestnut came nowhere near the poles, was focused and gave it his all to jump the fences without any mistakes. Merely a minor time penalty means the qualification for the individual final is still in sight, a final battle for the best 30 combinations. So far, a surprising number of refusals in this first course.  

Galanthos SHK was produced by co-owner Janine Opendorp, that bought him as a foal at the Dutch Top Foals Auction Midden-Nederland. The Arthos R-son subsequently started his international career under Kim Hoogenraat, the pair competed at 1.35m level until last year. Then his current rider took over the reins and he jumped his first 1.50m/1.60m course last October. This makes his nearly clear in the first phase at the Olympic Games all the more impressive.  

More information about the KWPN-horses at the Olympic Games can be found on this overview page. 

Photo: Dirk Caremans