It is as usual a feast of fine horse flesh, and the Dutch breeders prove again that they are the masters of getting the ‘mix’ right, of picking where the action is and taking the best-of-the-best into their breeding ranks.
On the first day of viewing the jumping colts, there are four stallions each with two representatives: Calvino Z has two, one out of a Damiro mare, one out of a mare by Ekstein. Fine, except when you go to the always reliable Horse Telex website, and type in ‘Calvino Z’ you get not one, but two stallions, both born the same year, 1997, one out of a Ramiro mare, one out of a Burggraaf mare and seemingly both registered with Zangersheide. Weird. Turns out it’s the Calvino Z out of the Ramiro mare.
Mylord Carthago (Carthago / Jalisco B) also has two, out of New York and Major de la Cour mares, Mr Blue (Couperus / Oldenburg), still producing quality years after his death, has two (Colino and Germus R), the Libero son, Ustinov (out of a Nimmerdor mare) has two (Ramiro and Cornet Obolensky) and Eldorado van de Zeshoek is obviously flavor of the month has five, out of mares by Celano, Verdi, Carolus II, Manhattan and Concorde. Eldorado van de Zeshoek is by the Holsteiner, Clinton out of a Toulon / Calypso III mare.
His sire, Clinton, may have been an out-and-out super star, but so far Eldorado’s performance career has been extremely modest. He was 12th in the 5-year-old championships at Zangersheide with Hanno Ellerman in 2009. In 2013, their best result was a 4th in a 1.40 class at Pezinok CSI**, although Jeroen Dubbledam tried the stallion that year for a 7th in a 1.30 class at Zuidroek. In 2014, with Ellerman in the saddle, the only result so far has been a 29th at the Grand Prix at Drachten**.
Day two, and things are hotting up. There are two by Verdi (Quidam de Revel / Landgraf) out of mares by Voltaire and Carthago, two by Lucky Boy – no not the legendary foundation sire, Lucky Boy xx – this one is by the Landgraf son, Lavall out of a Calypso I / Marlon mare. His two are out of Corland and Ahorn mares. Falaise de Muze (by the Landor son, Wandor v/d Mispelaeve out of a Nabab de Rêve mare) also has two out of Calvino Z and Cade Z mares, and Advance (Utrillo v/d Heffinck / Cavalier) has colts out of Indoctro and Hors la Loi II mares.
Spartacus (Stakkato / Grannus) who was the most popular jumping stallion in Holland in 2011, with 201 foals born in 2012, has three – one of out of a Quidam de Revel mare and two out of Indoctro mares.
The great Baloubet du Rouet (Galoubet / Starter) has three, out of Cantus, Quidam de Revel and Jalisco B mares. Cantos (Contender / Goodtimes) who was a very moderate 1.50 performer with Julia Kayser, has three out of Germus R, Namelus R and Lancelot mares. The ten-year-old Carambole (Cassini I / Concerto II) has been moving through the ranks with Willem Greve, son of the great Dutch breeder, Jan Greve. The pair were in the winning Nations Cup team at Copenhagen last year, and their best individual results were 4ths in the Grand Prix of Geesteren and Vejerde de la Frontera. He has colts out of Guidam, Maximum Joe and Iroko mares.
Quality Time (by the Quidam de Revel son, Quantum out of a Cantus mare) has been a fine competitor with Jeroen Dubbeldam, winning the five star Grand Prix of San Patrignano in 2012, and with two 1.50 thirds in 2013, at Neumünster*** and Zurich*****. He has four colts in the selection, out of mares by Verdi, Massimo, Burggraaf and Voltaire.
Numero Uno has six – out of mares by Heartbreaker, Coconut Grove xx, Damiro, Indoctro, Notaris and Nimmerdor mares. Numero Uno, by Libero out of a Lord Calando mare, moved into the WBFSH top 10 jumping stallions for the first time in 2013, coming into 9th place. Numero Uno was a decent 1.45 class horse with Marco Kutscher without ever looking like repeating the heroics of his sire.
Zirocco Blue (Mr Blue / Voltaire) is shaping as a top horse with Jan Vrieling, the pair were members of winning Nations Cup teams at Gijon and Copenhagen in 2013, and also won the Grand Prix of Copenhagen that year, although it was an up-and-coming rather than a star studded field. Zirocco Blue has six representatives out of mares by Goodtimes, Contender, Julio Mariner xx, Cantos, Nimmerdor and Indoctro. Zirroco Blue with 184 foals in 2012 was the second most popular jumping sire in 2011.
Enough with the stats, let the jumping begin in the big Brabanthalle, with the usual crowd of breeding enthusiasts watching every second of the action.
The first horse to jump sets the standard: by Acolord out of a Quite Easy mare, elegant, long legged, wonderful ping off the ground. Alas the commission doesn’t like him and he won’t go on…
Next to really shine, Gino H, entered by perhaps the most successful jumping breeder in the history of jumping breeding – Joris de Brabander. He’s by Calvino and out of Jomara, who just happens to be the dam of Hickstead. Careful, quick, and he looks like a two and a half year old not a five year old – some of the others really look like mature stallions and you wonder about their ‘preparation’. Though Gino goes to the next round.
The only other colt to get to the next phase is Amaretto LCH (above), by Air Jordan out of a Cassini I mare.
Casago (above) is a lovely grey, real stallion material and by the number one Holsteiner right now, Casall and out of Carthago / Caletto I mare who is the dam of VDL Harley, who competed with Angelique Hoorn and then Jessica Kurten mainly in 1.45 classes. The young stallion flows over the jumps, such an attractive horse and an even more attractive pedigree. Selected.
G. Zarah (above) is by the Holsteiner, Catoki (who competed at the World Cup finals of 2010 and 2011 with Phillip Weishaupt) out of a mare by Tolan R from one of the famed families at Stal Roelofs. The dark brown colt is a power machine with an elastic canter, and a great jump. Catoki is known for good types that are sometimes too short in body but it seems they are looking for a son for Holland. Selected.
Gideon (above) is one of the first sons of the Mr Blue son, Plot-Blue, out of a Libero / Concorde mare. He is big, 171cms, but smooth and balanced. Looking to his fences, and jumping sweetly. The commission wanted to see more sport in mother line and checked it thoroughly between first and second selection. They must have been satisfied as the horse is selected.
Glasgow (above) by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve out of a mare by No Limit, is another from a respected mare line. His grand mother, the famous Ida produced two internationals, Maroon and Newton. Even though he looked too slow over the oxer and stiff in body, he is selected, they must really like that breeding.
Galdo (above) by Baltic VDL out of a Great Pleasure mare combines some of the great names of the sport – Quidam de Revel, Jus de Pomme, Grannus, Mytens xx and Nimmerdor – he comes from one of the very good VDL mare lines, one that produced the licensed stallion Faldo who competed internationally with Albert Zoer with modest success. Galdo is a nice type, up in withers, good front leg and even bit of a twist left in the jump, doesn’t stop him being selected.
‘114’ an unnamed Holsteiner by the Casall son, Connor out of a Contender / Lord mare is real modern elegant type, and even though he looks a bit apprehensive at the big oxer, he too is selected.
Good Friends (above) by Mylord Carthago out of a mare by New York (by Quidam) out of a Corrado mare is very attractive blood type, clever in working out his stride, with a good front and hind leg. His grand dam produced the licensed stallion, Balourado who competed mainly in 1.30 / 1.40 classes with Robert Smith. Selected
Gazquine Tag is another Mylord, out of a mare by the Grand Veneur son, Major de la Cour, out of a Thoroughbred, Taquinerie, who just happens to be the dam of two horses that went to the Barcelona Games – Nonix with Michel Robert and Quinta with Willy Melliger, and all the studbooks are looking for ‘blood’. This one is not as athletic as the other Mylord but is still selected.
Caramel de la crème (above) is an odd name for such a powerful individual. He is by the Cornet Obolensky son, Corlensky G out of Crème de la Crème (Caretano / Quito de Baussy / Quidam de Revel). Great jump, exceptional pedigree even if it lacks performers. Selected.
Genereux Fortuna is by Wizzerd TN (by Indoctro) who was sold as a sport horse, and last year was campaigned by German rider, Marie Luetgenau, with their best result a 9th in a 1.40 class at Enschede**. The colt is out of a Quasimodo Z mare, and on his motherline there are lots of sport horses, mainly of the 1.30 variety. Even though he looks a bit apprehensive of the big oxer, he is selected.
Number125 (above) does not have a name but he is an elegant mixture of the best of the French, Diamant de Sémilly out of one of the van der Lageweg’s very good lines, one that produced the stallion Corland, who is out of the youngster’s grand dam, Thyra. The bay is really well muscled, every centimetre a stallion, he gets a bit tense in the jumping lane but shows enough to go on to the third round.
Golddigger (above) is a well developed colt, with nice long lines. He is by Querly-Elvis, a grandson of Baloubet out of a Heartbreaker mare, and out of a mare by Corland (Thyra again) out of a mare by Ramiro. Supple in his gaits, with a good eye for the fences and a good front leg, although he could be better behind. Good enough for the third round. The guy doing the commentary explains that when he talks of technique, he takes into consideration three things: use of frontleg, use of the back and the technique of the hind leg – those three things are the technique of jumping.
Guidaro (above) is by Quidaro by Quidam de Revel out of a Corrado mare, and out of a mare by Londontimes. The commentator points out that the dam and grand dam are not registered in the full studbook and that after this colt passed the first inspection, the commission inspected the mares between 1st and 2nd viewing – if they are just in foal book, they must still be quality mares if the stallion is to be approved. Guidaro shows the carefulness and the quick reactions that come with Quidam, and he goes to the third round.
Gladstone (above) is by Sam R who we are told ‘jumped Grand Prix’ although I can find no record of him jumping anything on the usually reliable Showjumping Archive Website. Gladstone is out of a mare by the Papillon Rouge son, Hors La Loi II (who did jump Grand Prix with Hugo Simon, just not very successfully). A quick take off, supple and athletic and very pretty – selected.
Galander is by Ustinov, a much hyped son of Libero who alas languishes in the shade of his sire. The colt is a little inconsistent with his front leg, but has good reflexes, and the sort of pedigree that the commission likes to see, his dam did a fine mare test, and has already produced Qulander who competed internationally with James Patterson Robinson. Selected.
Glory of Stud (above) is by the Clinton son, Whitaker who has been reasonably successful with Qatari rider, Hamad Ali Al Attiya, the pair have won two six bar competitions in the past two seasons. He is out of a Cavalier / Jasper mare, nice traditional breeding. He improved as he jumped and was rewarded with the chance to go to the third round.
Gagarin (above) is by the Clinton son, Zacharov who last season won a 1.45 at Celje** and the World Cup qualifier at Pezinok**. The big framed horse with a great canter stride is out of a mare by Cavalier. He shows he is scopey enough to be selected.
Amaroso (above) is by the oddly named A’lee Spring Power who is by Argentinus out of a Cornet Obolensky mare, his claim to fame is a couple of placings in six-year-old classes. His dam’s antecedents are a little better known, by Lux out of a Nimmerdor / Courville xx mare, and the mare line is strong. He is a big over developed horse and looks like a six year old but he jumps well enough to inspire a little round of applause and the right to go on.
Gehazia VDL (above) is by the Corland son, Bacardi who was second in the World Young Horse Championships with Jos Lansink in 2013 but a C rating on his hindleg joint meant he has not been used much. The colt’s mare line is impressive – Corrado, Nimmerdor, Jalisco B. He really doesn’t want to touch a pole and improves as he jumps. Selected.
The year sees the first official crop of Eldorado van de Zeshoek, although a few mares were bred before he was approved. The first of his representatives Grodino (above) is so concentrated on the jumps, a great jump on the final oxer provokes applause and selection. The grey colt out of a Celano / Concorde mare is the star of the day’s group.
George (above) is out of a Concorde / Mytens xx mare, from the same line as Grodino, from the breeder J. van Loon, who bred Eldorado, and also bred George’s great grand dam Dorina who jumped internationally with Franke Sloothaak. Another good jumper, selected.
Another Eldorado, G. Eldoradus (above) makes it three by the stallion into round three. He is out of a Carolus II / Baloubet du Rouet / Burggraaf mare – although there are no performances on this line to back up the names. Careful and scopey with a good attitude.
On the second day there are even more fans in the stands for what is usually the strongest group. Garezzo (above) is by Arezzo VDL (Chin Chin / Heartbreaker) who has been ridden throughout his career by Jessica Kurten, coming steadily through the ranks – in January 2014, the pair were 8th in a 1.50 at Basel***** in a classy field. Garezzo is out of a mare by the Heartbreaker son, Padinus. A spectacular hind end, a loose body, an easy canter, lots scope, and they are selected.
Gaudi O (above) is by Arthos R who has had reasonable success with Jesper Romp, mainly in 1.30/1.40 classes. He is out of a mare by Ferro, who was training with an international jumping rider until Hans Horn, the national coach suggested that he might be a better dressage horse, sent him to Coby van Baalen, and the rest is history. He’s tall with a light footed balanced canter and reads his fences, he is a bit inconsistent, but the commission gave him lots of chances, they must want him selected and he is. They obviously like his mare line with lots of performers…
Everyone has been looking forward to seeing the Big Star colt, G-Star (above), he comes from a good family and was bred by Egbert Schep, who found, and sold Big Star and seems to own about half the colts in this selection. Alas, he looks like his dam sire, the rangey black Jumbo-Jet, who unlike Big Star was no star in the world of jumping. The tall – 1.70 – youngster is very untidy, and while the commission finds his breeding interesting, his lack of power and inconsistent technique means he does not go on.
Diarado / Democrat – not selected
The other minor shock/amaze is the failure of the two sons of Diarado to make it to the third round. They were both super cute, but lacked jumping talent. There have now been two crops presented by this much-hyped stallion, but still no approved son.
Glorieus GR (above) is by Lucky Boy – not the famed Thoroughbred but a Holsteiner of Landgraf / Calypso I breeding. Glorieus is out of a Corland / Goodtimes mare. He hovers a bit on the oxer but still gets through.
Black Bird (above) is an exciting package, by Street Hassle (Quick Star / Laudanum xx) and out of Kamtchatka (Le Tot de Sémilly) who is the dam of one of the current stars, Orient Express and his grand dam is the mother of the great Dollar de la Pierre. Black Bird is a bit short and not the nicest type but the blood is intriguing and the commission forgives him a little awkwardness over the oxer – selected.
Gangster (above) is another who looks great on paper. He is by the Stakkato son Spartacus, who has had a solid career with Marco Kutscher and his dam is by the great Indoctro from a famous mare line, with lots of black type performers. A lovely flowing jump. Selected.
Boogie Boy D’ive Z (above) is another with a pedigree that glows in the dark: by Baloubet du Rouet out of a Quidam de Revel / Landgraf mare, and he jumps. Selected.
Giovanni-H (above) is by the Baloubet son, Balou du Rouet (I’m not sure why the catalogue adds a Z – Balou is entirely the product of Paul Schockemöhle’s empire) and out of a son of Narcos II, Hinault. He relaxes as the test goes on, and is selected.
Genius (above) is by Baloubet du Rouet out of the Cantus mare, Nicce, who bred to Quick Star produced Vleut, re-christened Guccio when he became one of Edwina Tops Alexander’s accessories – the pair had a wonderful 2014 season, including a third at Monte Carlo. Careful, scopey, selected.
One of the superstar acts of the day came from Bottleneck (what kind of a name is that?) – above – who is one of the few foals by Orient Express, out of a mare by the great Thoroughbred jumper and sire, Laudanum, out of an Anglo mare by Arlequin, the sire of Zeus. Lots of black type, and the colt would probably have to lie down and refuse to move not to get licensed – but he jumps and gets better, makes a mess of the oxer, and jumps it the next time spectacularly. Of course he is selected.
Gilavsco (above) is by the Chin Chin son, Zapatero VDL who is carving a very fine international career with Jessica Kürten, and out of an Indoctro / Nimmerdor mare. He’s sharp – selected.
The French colt Baloulisco du Lozon (above) has moved north to the VDL stud, and he is royally bred. By Baloubet du Rouet out of a Jalisco (that’s the second cross of Almé) mare, from the family of Michel Robert’s Grand Coeur A and Edwina Tops Alexander’s Itot du Chateau. A quick, active canter up in withers quick reflexes careful nice and loose through body. He gets too close to big oxer, rails down, great reaction second time from the chestnut from Manche in the heart of Normandy. Selected.
Gin Tonic (above) by the Tangelo son, Vigaro, his breeder Roelof Bril rode the father, and the dam is by the great Nabab de Rêve. Another sharp classy jumper who reacts well when he has a rail. Selected.
Great Gonerby (above) is by the Contender son, Cantos out of a Namelus R / Nimmerdor mare. The colt is bit vertical in the neck and they like their jumpers built low here, he too has a spectacular correction after getting the oxer down. Selected.
George (above) is by Vittorio out of a Caretino mare. This year Vittorio was 34th in the Grand Prix at Wierden CSI** with Tim van de Oetelaar – last year the pair were 22nd at the European Junior Championships. George is a lovely athletic type careful over the first line, then his tail shoots up and the attendants stop him and let him relax. Cooled down he reads his fences, a functional jumper. Selected.
Gregor (above) is by Carambole. Carambole is another of the stars initially rejected by the licensing commission but was later added to the stallion ranks. Carambole is owned by the very wealthy Mr Kerbold (who features later in the dressage horse licensing). Apparently Mr Kerbold’s horses are not for sale, and when he was interrupted while enjoying the sun on a Greek island by the mega wealthy Ukrainian oil-billionaire, Alexander Onischenko, waving a couple of million, he was told not to waste his breath. Gregor is out of an Iroko (Pilot) mare and is lovely clean athletic youngster, super over the oxer. Selected.
Geneve is by Quality Time, by Quantum by Quidam de Revel out of a Cantus mare. Quality Time is jumping Grand Prix with Jeroen Dubbeldam (they were third in the 1.50 class at Zurich five star last year) and out of a mare by another Quidam son, Verdi. Geneve has real scope and is good behind. Selected.
Giorgio (above) is also by Quality Time, and out of a Massimo / Clinton mare. Good technique nice bascule, good behind, could be quicker on the take off. Selected.
Freestyle VK Z (above) is by Falaise de Muze who is by the Landor S son, Wandor v/d Mispelaere, and out of the famed mare Walnut de Muze who took Harrie Smolders to the WEG in Lexington – last year the pair were second in the Prix Europa at Aachen (behind Ben Maher and Cella) . Freestyle is out of a Calvino Z mare out of a grand-daughter of the great Laudanum xx. The horse is just playing with the jumps and well deserves the round of applause, and selection.
Galvano (above) by Numero Uno out of a Damiro mare, he is such a pretty horse that it hurts when he crashes first fence when the attendants stand off to test his heart. He is fine second time and a really stylish jumper. Selected.
At 160 centimetres, Ginger-Ale is the smallest horse in the selection but nice jumper with great technique. Ginger-Ale is by Tyson one of the new stallions that really does jump Grand Prix – ridden by Leon Thijssen, he was a member of the winning Dutch team at Aachen and La Baule last year. Ginger-Ale is out of a Tangelo / Landadel mare. The crowd shows its appreciation when the bold little jumper goes through to the third phase.
Giorgio is by Numero Uno out of a Nimmerdor mare, with plenty of black type on his pedigree. He has such great front end – careful and scopey. Selected.
There are three Zirocco Blues that go through to the third round, and to celebrate the achievement, Zirocco Blue (by Mr Blue out of a Voltaire mare) takes out the 1.50 class later in the evening.
The first to go through, Glen (above) has the typical long lines that Zirocco Blue puts on his progeny. Glen is out of a mare by Julio Mariner, the Thoroughbred who stood at Jan Greve’s stud in Holland after a great race career followed by failure at stud in England. Plenty of scope, easy over the fences, he makes the jumps look tiny. Selected.
The next out is Gerko VDL (above) who is out of a Goodtimes / Hold Up Remier mare. Another with heaps of scope. Selected.
The lucky last to be selected is the third Zirroco Blue, who for now answers to ‘342’, bred and presented by the VDL stud, he is out of a Contender / Grundyman xx mare. His grand dam produced Will Simpson’s, Carlsson fvom Dach, who won the Grand Prix at Wellington in 2008, then disappeared only to re-appear last year with German rider, Dennis Buddenberg with a win in the Puissance at Zuidbroeck.
In the end the Championship lineup went:
Champion – Genius (Baloubet / Cantus)
2nd – Giorgio (Numereo Uno / Nimmerdor)
3rd – Grodino (Eldorado / Celano)
4th – Galdo (Baltic VDL / Great Pleasure)
5th – Glory of Stud (Whitaker / Cavalier)
6th – Gehazia (Bacardi VDL / Corrado)
7th – Glen (Zirocco Blue VDL / Julio Mariner xx)
8th – Gregor (Carambole / Iroko)