WBFSH STUDBOOKS JUMPING GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TROPHY BREEDING INSIGHTS

By Michael Doherty  

The inaugural WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy commences at Longines Tops International Arena tomorrow, Thursday 28th September, and concludes on Sunday 1st October. A total of 160 combinations line out across the young horse divisions, each hoping to play their part in clinching a win for their horse’s respective studbook.

In what is a growing trend in the world of showjumping, we will see several riders compete this week on horses bred by themselves and their families. These include Belgium’s Dirk Demeersman, Jeroen De Winter, Astrid Rooms and Walter Lelie, France’s Hugo Paris and Ireland’s Robert Splaine.

A number of breeders are represented by more than one breeding product at this year’s event. With three home-breds in Valkenswaard, French breeder and rider Fabrice Paris, of Haras des Forêts, is represented by Ioke des Forêts (by Candy de Nantuel), Heroine des Forêts (by Up To You) and Honolulu des Forêts (by Cicero Z van Paemel), who all line out under Hugo Paris.

Belgium’s De Winter family, of ‘Het Netehof’, will see three home-breds compete with Jeroen De Winter. Ruby-Linn van het Netehof (by Casall ASK) and Skelton van het Netehof (by For Pleasure), bred by Eric De Winter, and Rhapsody van het Netehof (by Chacoon Blue), bred by Roger De Winter. 

French brothers Eric Levallois, Haras de Beaufour, & Richard Levallois, Haras de Semilly, are each represented by two of their breeding products. Haras de Beaufour has Harry de Beaufour by Cornet Obolensky) with Reynald Angot and Gjos de Beaufour (by Contendro I) with Penelope Leprevost, the latter horse co-bred with JP Stables, while Haras de Semilly has Hot Pleasure Semilly (by For Pleasure) with Clement Fortin and I Am Semilly (by Casall ASK) with Jean Marc Le Guennec.

The breeding programmes of Belgium’s DW Stables, Kristof Engelen and Tony Raman & Mieke Strobbe are each represented twice, as are France’s SNC Ellipse and Elevage Mouche, Shannondale Stud of Ireland and Del Maset of Spain. Four German breeders also feature on the double; Hartwig Rohde, Hubert Vornholt, Karl-Heinz Wolke and Silke & Denise Sulz Gbr.

In terms of breeding stallions, Cornet Obolensky is the most represented sire, with a total of nine offspring competing. His son, Comme Il Faut, is next in line with eight offspring. Kannan is represented five times, while Emerald and Vagabond de la Pomme each have four in the mix.

Diamant de Semilly features most dominantly as a damsire in the entries for this year’s WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy. He is way out in front, appearing eleven times. Cornet Obolensky is represented four times, while there are three each for Calido I, Kannan, Lux Z and Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve.

Last, but certainly not least, we move on to the dams of this year’s entries. Four mares will each see two of their offspring perform in Longines Tops International Arena this week. Interestingly, all four are mares who competed themselves. Belgium’s Dirk Demeersman has entered two home-bred offspring of his former international mare Daimonds Billy (Diamant de Semilly x Heartbreaker); 7 Year Old brothers Carrasco Z (by Cornet Obolensky) & Cote d'Or Z (by Carambole).

Fellow Belgian rider, Jeroen De Winter, will also compete on two horses from the same dam. Ruby-Linn van het Netehof (by Casall ASK) and Skelton van het Netehof (by For Pleasure) are both out of L' Innocence Van 't Meulenhof (Diamant de Semilly x Carthago Z), who Jeroen partnered at the final of the Belgian Championships just last week. Worth noting is that L' Innocence Van 't Meulenhof is also the full-sister to former top competitor and breeding stallion Emerald. 

Melodie-K van 't Kattenheye (Cornet Obolensky x Kannan), a current Grand Prix mare for USA’s Michael Hughes, is represented by two offspring; Qmusic-K van 't Kattenheye (by Le Blue Diamond van 't Ruytershof) & Rhythm-K van 't Kattenheye (by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve), both competing with Belgium’s Jan Vermeiren.

Finally, we have the Selle Francais mare Rouky d' Ellipse (Kannan x Double Espoir). Prior to her breeding career, Rouky d' Ellipse competed in France until the end of her seven-year-old season. From her first three foals registered in France following her sport career, two are competing in Valkenswaard this week; 8 Year Old FBI d'Ellipse (by Vagabond de la Pomme) & 7 Year Old Giorgio D'Ellipse (by Prestigio LS La Silla), both ridden by France’s Robin Lesqueren.

Congratulations to each breeder who has a horse at this year’s WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy, and best of luck to each of the combinations competing.

<< Startlists for the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy can be found HERE. >>