Two 2022 Foals Selected for Elite Ekestrian Show Jumping Auction

Two of the embryos expected in 2022 (Diamant de Semilly x Clinton and Diamant de Semilly x Capone I) have been selected for Elite Ekestrian Show Jumping Auction on 25th and 26th of January 2022! And we have high hopes for both of them - there really are many “high” reasons for this…read on below.

https://www.ekestrian.com/.../female-by-diamant-de.../13931

https://www.ekestrian.com/.../rare-brother-of.../13871

Both of embryos are by Diamant de Semilly (Le Tot de Semilly x Elf II) one of the best breeding sires ever – the quality of his offspring is unanimously recognized and sought after. He has been placed at No.1 (’15, ’16,’19) or No.2 (’17,’18,’20,’21) of the BEST STALLION IN THE WORLD WBFSH Jumping Sires Rankings ever since 2015! This fantastic horse was a winner in his own sport career. With rider Eric Levallois he was 2002 Team World Champion, Champion of France in 2002 and Team vice-champion in 2003 European Championships. With an impressive regularity, Diamant transmits to his offspring his strong back, scope, great balance, wonderful canter, suppleness, power, uncommon ease and super willingness, which makes him a dream stallion. He sired horses such as Don VHP (Voltaire), European vice-champion in 2017 with Harrie Smolders, as well as the 2016 Olympic mount of the same rider, Emerald van’t Ruytershof (Carthago). A member of national team of UK on WEG with two different riders, Utamaro d Ecaussine (Quidam de Revel) is also by legendary Diamant, as are Dominator 2000 Z, Mumbai, Elvis ter Putte, Andiamo Semilly…many of them are now successful not only in sport, but as breeding sires as well.

The dams of the two embryos are also from families significant for the sports world.

The first embryo, sexed female, is due on 3rd of May 2022. This filly is out of Hacienda van de Molendreef DKS (Clinton x Beach boy), whose dam is the famous Hydra O, a mother of 6 international jumpers and one of the foundation mares of one of Belgium’s best mare lines. Hydra’s children and grandchildren include international show jumpers such as Beezie Madden’s Olympic mount Via Volo, Darragh Kenny’s Twister, Lauren Hough’s Every Way van de Molendreef, and many more. Hacienda's dam sire is elite Oldenburg licensed and tested stallion Beach Boy (Zeus x Lucky Boy XX), whose impressive jumping pedigree has been confirmed by his performance and his breeding results both in Germany and Sweden. Hacienda successfully competed up to 1.40m and produced several foals so far. The oldest, a filly named Hopscotch DKS (Orlando x Clinton) recorded many clear rounds with her rider, Axelle Lagoubie in 2020 and 2021, competing up to 1.30m.

The second embryo, sexed male is due on 30th July 2022. This colt is out of Capers, a 2004 Oldenburger mare (Capone I x Consul), and as such is a halfbrother to Darragh Kenny’s star horse Cassini Z (Cassini II), who represented Ireland in NC and recorded wins and placings at the higest level, including at London Olympia, GCT in Madrid and Dublin. Another offspring of Capers is a gelding named Von Carter (Viva Voltaire) who with his rider Vera Benchimol successfully competes in young horse classes in Belgium. Capers was never tried in sport, but both her parents were international 1.50-1.60 jumpers. Her dam, Nightwatch (Consul x Carneval) competed up to 1.50m, and granddam Karrousel (Karneval x High Rank XX) produced three 1.50m jumpers, as well as Berkeley, the dam of our own Belle Clara DKS, who recorded many wins and placings at Grand Prix level. Caper’s sire, Holstainer stallion Capone I (Contender x Ladalco), was an international 1.60 m showjumper, representing Canada internationally in Nations cups competitions.

Season Finale: Lilly Express DKS, Hopscotch DKS, Ombre de Quidam DKS

The season has finished for our three working girls, deserved holiday is on!!

Lilly Express DKS (Baloubet de Rouet x Cento) finished with a bang, winning her 1.35 m class of 115 participants at AEC Normandy Winter Meet! This was just continuation of good form for the 9 year old mare, steadily rising since the competitions restarted in the summer-she recorded a total of 3 victories and was placed 11 times, out of 27 starts in courses up to 1.40m. That means she was “in the money” more than 50% of the starts and often in very strong company!

Hopscotch DKS (Orlando x Clinton) had an equally busy season and she also finished it well, placing three times in the last couple of weeks in her classes. In total, she had 5 wins and 3 placings since the summer re-start, jumping up to 1.30m. More importantly, Hopscotch who is super capable, but a bit green, is showing steady progress in many areas, slowly becoming more mature.

Ombre de Quidam DKS (Quidam de Revel x Cento) had an action-packed summer, jumping ever more demanding classes for her age group. She went on a well deserved holiday a bit earlier, after finishing her outdoor season in 10th place overall in Cycle Classique for 6 year olds. 8 wins and 2 placing out of 20 starts in classes up to 1.35 is a show record that speaks for itself!

Our thanks go to Axelle Lagoubie, Romain Bourdoncle and Tip Top Cheval Team for what they achieved with our “girl power trio” during this year and we wish them all the best for the next season!

We are so looking forward to the new year with these three capable mares and can’t wait to see what else they can do!

Lilly Express DKS

Hopscotch DKS

Ombre de Quidam DKS

Normandy Horse Show Part 2

Two more DKS "girls" representing us well at the amazing Normandie Horse show today:

1) Hopscotch DKS (Orlando - Clinton) - clear in the morning class in the big ring.

2) Lilly Express DKS (Baloubet du Rouet - Cento; mother of Gilly from my last post) - clear and fast in the BIG 1.35 m speed class. Without looking like she was going fast, she ended 6th out of 81 entries! Thank you Axelle Lagoubie and Romain Bourdoncle.

As a bonus, the foal championship at the same show was won by a foal by Ekano DKS*Semilly.