We are so incredibly excited to have this stallion on our farm!! I have loved his offspring for years, acquiring several prior to him. His blood alone makes him special, but his intelligence and athleticism make him exceptional.
His sire is the one and only Darco. Darco is one of the most accomplished show jumping sires of all time. He is a leading stallion that has produced the most offspring competing at Grand Prix in the world. For five years Darco led the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horse jumping sire rankings and produced over 3000 foals. He won his first World Cup qualifier in 1988 with Ludo Phillipaerts and in 1989 they placed at the WEG. Among countless other top level victories in international showjumping, Darco and Phillipaerts competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Ludo Phillipaerts had this to say about the stallion:
“Together with Darco, I began my international career, he is a horse to remain grateful to for the rest of my life. Darco really has everything it takes to make a unique super crack, as a showjumper as well as a sire. Horses of this outstanding quality will remain the great exceptions in the breeding industry. I will never forget the fine intelligence he so often proved in the showjumping arena, where he always showed lots of power and stamina coming from his high-bred ancestors.”
While his father is impressive, his moms dad is the equally impressive Contender! Contender has proven to be one of the most influential sons of Calypso II – who was himself an important transmitter of the genetic heritage of Cor de la Bryère. Calypso II was an advanced level showjumper with Michael Rüping, before retiring to stud where he sired a number of good jumping horses, and also several top line dressage competitors. Contender is out of the Ramiro daughter, Gofine who was in turn by the great Thoroughbred sire, Ladykiller (Her line goes: Ramiro x Ladykiller xx x Heidkrug x Loretto-First-Mirza-Rudolf-Defregger-Justinus-Achill-Fritz). Gofine produced several top showjumpers including the international performer Ulina (by Chicago) who competed with Susanne Behring, as well as Largo, Frechdachs and Florenza. Bred to Caletto I, Gofine produced Cornetto in 1989, who went on to be reserve champion of his stallion approval. A daughter of Gofine produced the stallions, Cassandro I & II. Cassandro I was a Danish Show champion, and as a gelding, was a successful jumper with Jerry Smit. Gofine’s daughter, M-Loreen (by Leander) when bred to Caletto I, produced two international competitors: Fine Kiss (Michel Robert) and Caliskan (Candice King). Contender won the 1987 Adelheidsdorf stallion performance test with a jumping index of 146.62. He went on to be the 1-b main premium vice-champion in Oldenburg on the basis of his excellent first crop of foals.He is now one of the most sought after stallions in Germany today. He has produced 80 approved sons, and 59 state premium mares including Riconda who won the Elite Mare Show at Rastede in 1993. As of 2006, in Holstein, Oldenburg, Hannover and Rhineland, Contender has produced 782 registered mares, 498 successful offspring in the sport. Contender spent his first three years at stud in Oldenburg before moving to Holstein. An impressive number of his first foals went on to international careers: Niko (Geoff Billington). Copa d’Oro (Yves Houtackers) and Maria Callas (Ben Schröder) – there is also Herbert Blöcker’s eventer, Chicoletto. Contender sons include: Cantos (KWPN, damsire, Goodtimes), Koriander (Moltke I), Canabis Z (Silvester), Chellano Z (Cor de la Bryère), and Oldenburg performance test champion, Contango (exported to the USA), Continue, Caius, Clinton, Calvador, Camiros (1994 approval winner), Concerto I and II, Coleo and Concetto. Contender has dominated German breeding values for many years now and continues to produce exciting young stallions like Contendro (premium stallion in the approval of 1999, and winner of the performance test at Adelheidsdorf the following year).Marco Kutscher is successfully riding three approved Contender sons in international sport: Contreo, Conterno Grande and Montender (German Champion of 2003, bronze medallist at the Athens Games and European Champion 2005).
Darcon is a sire who has the best of both his parents – courage, scope, intelligence and heart! We look forward to many babies in the years to come.