Philipp Weishaupt has had many good and very good horses under his saddle. So when he speaks of a horse as “something very special,” that carries weight. We are talking about Zineday, who is only eight years old, who jumped to victory in the Frankfurt Grand Prix today.
For the last time, the Frankfurt Grand Prix was held at CSI3* level. From next year, there will be four-star jumping in the Festhalle. This year, course designer Frank Rothenberger put a 1.55 meter jump in the way of the participants in the Grand Prix, which at least twelve pairs mastered without any mistakes and qualified for the jump-off.
Fourth in line was Philipp Weishaupt on Zineday. With 40.54 seconds they set a time that even the most successful rider of the weekend, Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking with IB Ventago, could not catch up with. They reached the finish after 40.84 seconds. In third place was the unlucky fellow of the year, Philipp Schulze Topphoff. After he had to pause half the season due to injury, his Clemens de la Lande gave him a white ribbon today in 42.16 and thus a positive end of the year.
One like no other
Zineday may only be eight years old, but what he lacks in experience he makes up for in partnership with his rider. Weishaupt has known the gelding since he was born. He was born at the Beerbaum Stables in Riesenbeck. Ludger Beerbaum was very successful with his father Zinedine. The mother, LB Paola v. Polydor Spring Ball, Weishaupt himself rode in international courses at 1.60 level. And the son of the two seems to emulate his parents. Phillip Weishaupt says:
“Zineday is a very special horse. He’s done eight Grands Prix this year, ranging from two stars to five stars, and he’s always been clear! I don’t even know if something like this has ever happened before.” The best part: Weishaupt can keep Zineday. His sponsor secured it for him around a year and a half ago.
The other placed
Second place went to Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking, who could hardly have had a better feeling going into the Christmas break. He won two competitions in Frankfurt. He was fourth in the second Grand Prix qualifier and now second today.
Philipp Weishaupt wins the Hessen Grand Prix with Zineday presented by Deutsche Vermögensberatung AG. He went into the course as fourth of the twelve participants in the jump-off and presented an unassailable 40.54 seconds. Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking followed in second place in 40.84 seconds, Philipp Schulze Topphoff was third with 42.16 seconds.
Weishaupt and Zineday’s victory was something of a family affair. He not only knows the eight-year-old Westphalian from birth, he also knows the parents of the exceptional athlete. Zineday was born in Riesenbeck in the stables of Weishaupt’s employer, Ludger Beerbaum. Ludger Beerbaum was successful in international grand prix with his father Zinedine as well as with his mother LB Paola. “Zineday is a very special horse,” emphasizes Weishaupt. “He’s done eight Grands Prix this year, from two stars to five stars, and he’s always been clear! I don’t even know if something like this has ever happened before.” 15 months ago, the American sponsor of the championship rider, Alice Lawaetz, secured the horse for him. A couple whose future one can be excited about.
“I already scolded Philipp that he couldn’t control himself,” joked Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking and then continued: “But I had it in my own hands. I was in the jump-off after Philipp and knew how fast he was. I was fast too, but not fast enough.” Razor-sharp analysis by the man from Steinhagen, who received the special award for the most successful rider of the tournament.
Third-placed Philipp Schulze Topphoff not only had a less than pleasant year, but up to this afternoon the tournament in Frankfurt hadn’t gone well for him either. “I saved the energy for today,” he revealed. Anyway, the concept worked. But maybe his ten-year-old “Clemens” simply feels at home in the Festhalle. Here he was the most successful horse in the Youngster Tour at his first international tournament in 2019.
Incidentally, Philipp Weishaupt was delighted to receive an honorary prize, which he might find particularly tempting given the icy temperatures prevailing in Frankfurt: a trip to Namibia, given by Avalon Premium Cars Kronberg GmbH. “I’ve been to Kenya before when I was 18, but I’ve never gone on safari. I’m really looking forward to that.”
All results can be found here.
Tags: Philipp Weishaupt future horse Zineday victory Grand Prix Frankfurt
