La Renaissance d'Ekano DKS
DK Sporthorses has been getting recognition for its top breeding program recently in the media, as Ekano DKS returned to sport under the brilliant handling and care of Sophie and Richard Levallois of Haras de Semilly. L’Eperon has done a gorgeous write up of Ekano’s career and we are so honored to be included as a part of his story!
Hanley DKS Becomes an Approved SF Stallion
Hanley DKS (2017 colt, Kannan - Kumana DKS) is an approved Selle Francais stallion!
Many congratulations to his owners Elevage Dual (Christine & Gilles Croquennec).
This is the second approved stallion from our wonderful Kumana DKS (2010 mare, Cumano - Cento). The first one is, of course, the 2019 French Champion Ekano DKS*Semilly.
This week, after stallion testing in St. Lo, Hanley was approved by the Selle Français studbook, earning the top predicate "Très Prometteur" (Very Promising).
Where are they now?
Every year, DK Sporthorses sells a few of the fine jumpers we breed (can’t keep them all!). We caught up with some of them to check what they have been up to:
Nina Simone DKS (2013 mare, Kannan x Cento) competed regularily in classes for 7 year olds in 2020, jumping them with ease and confidence with her rider Regis Villain. The bay mare, half-sister of our Kumana DKS (Cumano x Cento), exits the YH category next year and we hope to see her perform just as well in “grown-up” classes.
Another Kumana half-sister, Mira DKS (2012 mare, Mylord Carthago x Cento) went to USA where she is competing with an amateur rider. This gray mare is exceptionally easy to ride and looks a perfect partner for her owner Hope Meinen-the two of them recording many clear rounds and podium finishes.
Nic Nac Quality (2013 stallion, Kannan x Clinton), after getting his approval as a stallion for Zangersheide and competing in Europe, continues his career in the USA with Peter Lutz. This stricking jumper, that we produced in partnership with Quality Stud, is regularly placed in his classes for 7 year olds, showing power and agility.
Drago 123, born Mostar DKS (Darco x Cassini I) jumped first in Germany and lately in the USA. His recent owner Mollie Hartung described him as “a horse with the greatest mind I ever had”. Jumping with great style Drago is an ideal confidence giver and will continue his career with another amateur rider requiring his expertise.
Ekano DKS Semilly (Kannan x Cumano), the most famous of Kumana’s progeny, after becoming the champion of France for 5 year olds in 2019, continued his career in 2020, easily moving up in height with his rider Alexis Gourdin for Haras de Semilly. An approved stallion, Ekano’s foals are already showing their quality.
Another Kumana’s baby, Forget me not DKS (2015 mare, Diamant de Semilly x Cumano) after a few introductory courses last season, started her sporting career in full this year and recorded many clear rounds in 5yo classes with her rider Jean Hinet. In the arena she has shown a steady and focused mind, as well as a desire to jump clear.
So, what are they up to?
Well…we can say with pride they are all jumping!
Nina Simone DKS
Mira DKS
Nic Nac Quality
Drago 123
Ekano DKS
Forget-Me-Not 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.
Normandy Horse Show
The DKS "girls" took care of business at the Normandie Horse Show today!
Ombre de Quidam DKS (Quidam de Revel - Cento) - easy clear in the stout 6-year-old Cycle Classique (up to 1.35 m in height)!
Gilly Express DKS (Diamant de Semilly - Baloubet du Rouet) - clear round in the 4-year-old Cycle Classique. Gilly has now gone 7 for 7 clear rounds in her first competitive season.
Interestingly, both girls are from the same family as Ekano DKS*Semilly. And Gilly's dam, 9-year-old Lilly Express DKS, will be competing later in the week.
MANY, MANY, MANY thanks to Axelle Lagoubie, Amy Graham, Romain Bourdoncle, Emmanuel Bertho, and their terrific teams for doing such wonderful work in producing our horses.
DKS Family at Auvers
Young horses bred by DK Sporthorses competed again last week at Auvers. And again we had three horses that went clear and one that made a few mistakes. We are happy with all of them!
This time, Gilly Express DKS was double clear with Emmanuel Bertho in the saddle, jumping clasess for 4 year old horses.
Ekano DKS Semilly, owned by Richard and Anne-Sophie Levallois and ridden by Alexis Gourdin was double clear again in 6yo qualifications, while Axelle Lagoubie and Ombre de Quidam DKS were clear the first day, but made some mistakes on the second day of competition in the same category.
Forget-Me-Not DKS, owned by William Leparquier, jumped 5yo clasess and went double clear with Jean Hinet in the saddle.
We congratulate to all riders, trainers and owners!
Ekano DKS wins "Masters des Etalons" and named Champion of France for 5 year olds at Fontainebleau!
Ekano DKS (Kannan-Cumano), now owned by the world-renowned Haras de Couvains (Semilly) was named Champion of France for 5 year olds in the Masters des Etalons” at Fontainebleau, ridden by Alexis Gourdain. In winning this title, Ekano DKS follows in the footsteps of his sire Kannan, who was crowned Champion of France in 2005. Ekano DKS is a Selle Français approved stallion, labeled “Tres Promotteur” by the studbook and is part of its “Programme Génétique Avenir.” He stands at Haras de Couvains close to Saint-Lô, France. We extend heartfelt congratulations to Richard and Sophie Levallois as well as Alexis Gourdan.
Ekano DKS is the 2018 Champion of Normandy!
Our first foal produced in France, Ekano DKS is the 2018 Champion of Normandy for 4-year-old males!!!
He comes from a rare alchemy of the best European bloodlines: Kannan x Cumano x Cento, three great show jumping champions, all three ranked in the Top 100 World Stallions. He was sold to Sophie and Richard Levallois of Haras de Semilly, and they have done an outstanding job bringing him along (masterful riding from Alexis Gourdin does not hurt either 😀). In 2017, Ekano DKS was approved for breeding by Selle Français Stud book. He is by Kannan and out of Kumana DKS (Cumano-Cento), a crossing that we have grown to love because of the superior and smart horses it produces. In past years, Kumana gave us beautiful foals: Forget-Me-Not DKS (Diamant de Semilly, she is still with us and she is for sale); Game Boy DKS (Diamant de Semilly, sold to Mr. Egbert Schep 2 years ago); and Hanley DKS (full brother of Ekano DKS, recently sold to Christine and Gilles Croguennec). This year, Kumana produced a beautiful colt by Nabab de Reve, Ikano DKS.
Click here for video of the 2018 Championship of Normandy!
Happy New Year! DKS Looking Forward to an Exciting 2018 Foaling Season!
Dejan Krunic Sporthorses is looking forward to an exciting foaling season in 2018, with five foals expected between March and June. Of course, we know what we're hoping for, but we also know that our friends with their own plans have great hopes for some of these foals. We've had a lot of interest in our program lately, and have been talking to several people about reserving foals or purchasing them once they are born. We have also had several discussions about collaborations with buyers who would like to see certain breedings come out of our program. If you have questions about this, or if we can be of any assistance to you as you consider your needs, please use the Contact page to get in touch with us. We will be happy to discuss these and any of our future foals with you! Without further ado, we give you foals Dejan Krunic Sporthorses expects to welcome in 2018!
- Darco - Montender - Concorde: Due April 15, 2018. This foal is out of a terrific American mare line that has produced multiple Grand Prix horses and even one World Cup horse now ridden by Darragh Kenny. The beautiful Montender mare Belle Starr DKS was dedicated to breeding from the start, but her mother Belle Clara DKS (by Concorde) is a special, small mare with a huge heart who has won a LOT up to the 1.50m level. This colt will be born in the US. The price in the US will be €15.000 if a colt, and €20.000 if a filly. If you wish to have the horse transported to Europe, the price will be €22.500 if a colt and €25,000 if a filly.
- Nabab de Reve - Cumano - Cento: Due March 31, 2018. This foal will be out of Kumana DKS (the same mother as 2017's Hanley DKS, the full brother to Ekano DKS - a Selle Français approved stallion). We would prefer to keep this foal if a filly, but would sell at a higher price. If the foal is a colt, the price will be €12.500.
- Diamant de Semilly - Clinton - Heartbreaker: Due June 26, 2018. The mare, Bella Vita van de Molendreef, is the full sister to Beezie Madden's former ride Via Volo, who competed in the Olympics, PanAm Games, and was 2011 Horse of the Year. Bella Vita has produced several outstanding foals herself, including the BWP approved stallion Nic Nac (owned by Van de Heffinck). Her fantastic Kannan colt from this year was purchased by Arnaud Evain (director of the FENCES Elite Auction and Groupe France Elevage (GFE) Stallion Syndicate. I adore this mare, as she always produces excellent foals for us - but always colts! If she finally produces a filly for us, she is not for sale. If the foal is a colt, the price will be €15.000.
- Diamant de Semilly - Cassini I - Lansing: Due June 14, 2018. This will be the third foal for our lovely Holsteiner mare Beauté de la Vie (Cassini I - Lansing - Cor de la Bryère). Her first colt, Drago 123 (by Darco) was just sold at the Holstein Elite Riding Auction in Neumunster, Germany in November. Beauté's second foal, Kasalla DKS by Casall, was selected for and sold at the FENCES Elite Auction in 2017. We are very excited about Beauté's cross with Diamant de Semilly Beauté always produces very chic-looking goals that are very careful and have lots of blood. Even her Darco was stylish! The price for this foal will be €13.000.
- Verdi - Concorde - Budweiser: due June 9, 2018. This foal's mother is the spectacular Belle Clara DKS, just recently retired after a stellar competitive career and now fully dedicated to breeding. Belle Clara DKS (by Concorde) is the special, small mare with a huge heart that we mentioned above. She is the two-time winner of the grueling Jumper Derby at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic, and she has competed throughout the United States and won extensively at the 1.50m level. The price for this foal will be €12.500.
We are excited to see what happens over the next few months! We will be sure to keep you posted through pictures on our Facebook page and on Twitter. Again, please Contact Us if you have any questions about these or any of our other spectacular horses for sale!
Ekano DKS Excels at Selle Français Stallion Qualification in St. Lo!
The first horse produced by Dejan Krunic Sporthorses in France, Ekano DKS (Kannan-Cumano), was presented last week at the Selle Français national stallion selection/qualification in St. Lo by his owners Sophie and Richard Levallois, of Haras de Semilly. His combined score from the three qualification metrics, Modelle (Conformation), Allures (Movement) and Saut en Liberté (Free Jumping), placed him 7th out of 96 presented 3-year-olds. More spectacularly, he received the highest score for Modelle (Conformation) and placed near the top for Allures (Movement) and Saut en Liberté (Free Jumping). We're thrilled to see such a spectacular showing from the first horse produced in France. We're also particularly pleased with his scores, since the experts at Haras de Semilly made the very wise decision not to over-prepare their colts in Free Jumping so as not to wear them out young. We're thrilled to see Ekano DKS being cultivated so carefully by such a fantastic program, and we look forward to his showing in the final stallion selection this fall.
Ekano DKS is Kannan out of Kumana DKS (Cumano-Cento). This year Kumana DKS gave birth to another Kannan, Hanley DKS. That means that her most recent foal is the full brother of Ekano DKS who is well on his way to being an approved stallion! Hanley DKS is currently for sale.
DKS Welcomes Hanley DKS! (Kannan-Cumano-Cento)
Dejan Krunic Sporthorses is excited to welcome Hanley DKS to the family! He was born April 8, 2017 under the care of the amazing professionals at Haras de Semilly. Thank you so much Sophie and Richard! Hanley DKS is Kannan out of Kumana (Cumano - Cento), which has produced an extremely handsome young colt. We're not surprised by this, because Kumana has produced three outstanding foals for us to date. Her first foal, a colt by Kannan named Ekano DKS, was sold to none other than the world-famous Haras de Semilly. Ekano has started his training this year, and we are hearing that he is a very good jumper and we look forward to watching him in this season's stallion competitions! Kumana's second foal, a filly aptly named Forget-me-not DKS, is by the WBFSH World #1 Stallion Diamant de Semilly. Kumana's third foal, Game Boy DKS, is also by the World #1 Stallion Diamant de Semilly. Game Boy, a gorgeous youngster with a lot of potential, has been sold to the renowned stallion producer Egbert Schep of The Netherlands.
We're thrilled to have Kumana producing another Kannan foal this year and can't wait to see how he develops!
