Author: Robyn Morse
I was fortunate enough to attend the first day of the Elite Foals Registration Tour held at Newton Stud in Devon and, despite the wet weather trying its best to dampen the day, talent and quality shone through in abundance. Superstar sires made their mark but the emphasis on a strong and proven damline is what made the difference and was rightly rewarded.
Only two foals contested the eventing section of which the Asagao XX filly, Amalie, emerged triumphant. Bred and owned by Ella Livingstone, the judges awarded her an 8/10 for overall impression. Amalie’s dam Die Madonna is by the Donnerhall son Don Bosco out of the Lanio mare Leona, she evented with her owner before going to stud. Leona’s dam Agina was sired by Argentan I, perhaps most famous for his great son Argentinus – sire of British Olympic stallion Arko III ridden by Nick Skelton. Amalie’s Sire Asagao XX is a full-thoroughbred who has held his own successfully against purpose-bred warmbloods in showjumping and eventing, he has also qualified twice for the German Bundeschampionat.
The reserve champion, Diamond Darco, is a well-built AES colt by jumping stallion Non Stop out of Giewette, a mare by Uphill x Gribaldi. Bred in Devon by owner Tom Butler, Diamond Darco was not afraid to show off his powerful movement and confident attitude. His sire Non Stop possesses a hugely influential Holstein damline producing horses such as Carthargo and Canturo among others. Diamond Darco carries a thoroughbred influence through his damline – Naomi Ceroon, the dam of licensed KWPN stallion Uphill, is a product of full-thoroughbred Apollonius XX which helps bring blood and athleticism to the pedigree. The AES awared this colt a 2-star rating.
The champion of the showjumping section, despite being one of the smaller foals in the line-up, garnered much praise once he started to move. Earning himself a 3-star rating from the AES, Billy Benvolio wowed the crowd with powerful bursts of canter and a ‘look at me’ presence. Bred and owned by the Billy Stud this handsome chestnut colt is by the Converter x Carthargo son Conthargos out of international grand prix mare Rocksina VDL. Under Cameron Hanley the mare, by Corland out of keur mare Kersina (Emilion x Farn), has had multiple top ten placings around the globe. Rocksina descends from a super damline that has produced several grand prix horses and includes licensed stallions such as Cavalier and Cor de Pomme. Benvolio’s sire Conthargos was proclaimed a superior champion in 2008 with a score of 9.5, qualifying with ease for the German National Championship.
The reserve champion for the jumper section was a bay Breeders Elite colt named Gallahad. Bred and owned by Jenny Kennedy, this attractive colt by British bred stallion Noble Warrior is out of Leo Lux – a daughter of top sire Lux Z out of a mare heavily influenced by strong Irish blood. Lux Z contested the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney under Jerry Smit and earned over 1 million euros throughout his career, he is one of the most prominent sires in jumping today. The dam of Leo Lux, Diamond Moonlight, is sired by one of Ireland’s top showjumpers for many years – Coolcorron Cool Diamond. Leo Lux herself has already produced a full sister to Gallahad who was awared a higher first premium during the BEF Futurity in 2016. Gallahad’s sire is by Warrior who represented Azerbaijan at the London 2012 Olympics as well as the World Equestrian Games, a World Cup Final and a European Championship.
Boomtown ED took the champions title for the pony section, a striking palomino colt bred and owned by the newly founded Elite Dressage. Interestingly Boomtown is by Baron, an exciting and elegant son of champion stallion Benicio out of a Sir Donnerhall I mare. Benicio scored perfect 10’s for walk, trot and canter in his performance test and at the Bundeschampionat, improving upon the scores of his sire Belissimo M. Boomtown ED’s dam, Trevadlock Honey Bunny, is a Section A mare by Master Jophis Mouse x Bengad Dragon Arum and has already produced a number of foals by dressage stallions – her 3 year old filly by Blue Hors Zack, sire of triple world champion Sezuan, is just starting under saddle and is impressing from an early age. For his keen display in the arena the judges awarded this colt a Premium.
The reserve pony champion was Champignon Prince Louis, a bay sports pony colt by FS Mr. President out of a mare by Catherston Gold Storm. Prince Louis’ dam, Waterfield Grand Little Ebony, successfully competed at advanced medium dressage and BE90 eventing before becoming a broodmare, she went on to produce a premium Weser-Ems foal in 2016. Her sire Vechta is also the sire of international medal winning stallion Billy Congo. Prince Louis’ sire won his licensing in 2016 exceeding the achievements of his own father FS Mr.Right. Mr. Right was proclaimed a premium stallion in 2010 and later became a finalist in the German Bundeschampionat. Mr. President’s dam Chayenne is the mother of 8 licensed sons and several state premium mares, her own sire FS Cocky Dundee produced FS Champion De Luxe – the pony Bundeschampion of 2001 and 2002.
By far the largest section of the day was the dressage foals, this was won by Newton Vamouche. Bred by Ally Walton and owned by Newton stud, Vamouche is an embryo transfer filly by Valverde out of Woodlander Farouche – a British bred double world champion mare by Furst Heinrich x Dimaggio. Farouche’s dam Woodlander Dornroschen was long-listed for the 2016 Olympics in Rio with Micheal Eilberg before being retired to stud in 2017. Her sire Dimaggio rose to fame by becoming the first British-owned horse to claim the title of World Champion as a 5 year old, he has since sired multiple international grand prix horses including Half Moon Delphi (British Silver medallist, WEG), Don Luis (2016 Olympics) and Headmore Delegate (British representative under Alice Oppenheimer). Dornroschen’s dam Claire stems from a number of state premium mares and is by the influential Trakehner sire Caprimond. The sire of Vamouche, Valverde, is a very powerful young stallion owned by Helgstrand Dressage. His sire Vitalis (Vivaldi x D-Day) has dominated since the beginning of his career with recorded marks of 10.0 for trot and 9.8 for canter, his foals consistently achieve top price at auction and are noted for their expressive movement. Valverde’s dam Amicella is a state premium mare by Ampere out of Faith by First Final.
The reserve champion for the dressage section was Francis Morpheus, a black colt by Dutch stallion Franklin out of the Edward x Waikiki mare, Escada. Bred and owned by Louise Dalton, the dam of this beautiful colt was bought from auction in December 2013 – she received state premium status after the birth of her first foal by Furstenball in 2017. Her sire Edward is by showjumping stallion Embassy – also the sire of Ingrid Klimke’s gold medal winning mare Escada FRH. During Edward’s performance test in 2008 the test riders gifted him three 10’s for his outstanding paces, free jumping qualities and rideability. Dam sire of Escada, Waikiki, is by the famous German stallion Weltmeyer who can be found in the lines of many a top dressage horse throughout history. The sire of Franics Morpheus, Franklin, is another owned by Helgstrand Dressage. By Ampere out of Warkle M, a mare by Ferro x Flemmingh, Franklin is proving to be a star in his own right having been champion of his performance test and his KWPN licensing. He later went on to achieve the title of KWPN 5 year old champion and has received scores of 10 for trot, 9.5 for canter and a 9 for rideability.
The final of the Elite Foals Registration Tour takes place at Moreton Morrel College, Warwickshire, on the 8th September 2018. I wish all champions the best of luck in the final and for the future.
