The first competition of the Anemone Horse Truck Stallion Competition has already been ridden in Kronenberg. In the Z/ZZL class, a high-quality group of horses competed, in which Femke de Laat and Merlot VDL scored no less than 85,6 points and emerged as winners.

Merlot VDL was presented by Femke de Laat and they showed a lot of harmony, which resulted in them receiving no less than a 9 for the trot as wel as for harmony. Merlot VDL was described by judge Patria Wolters as"a dressage horse with beautifull conformation which showed a lot of potential. In trot, he has a good rhythm, is nicely uphill and light-footed." This is a great start of the stallion competition for Merlot VDL and Femke de Laat.