The Baileys Horse Feeds/ British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity continued at Reaseheath College in Cheshire on Thursday (18th August). Two young horses achieved the top grade possible of an elite premium.
Malpas breeder, Caroline Leigh took the top score of the day (9.15) with colt foal, SHS Quickstep (Westpoint Quickfire x Haarlem) in the jumping section. Caroline who mainly breeds dressage foals said: “I am chuffed, Quickstep is the first elite scoring foal we have bred. She is out of my jumping mare, Medina who I have owned for nearly 20 years. I bred a foal from her a couple of years ago who is a full sister to SHS Quickstep.”
SHS Quickstep’s sire, Westpoint Quickfire is by the same stallion, (Quick Star) as Olympic gold medallist, Big Star. Caroline continued: “I may sell Quickstep but my partner, Carl Shone, is very keen to keep him and take him jumping.”
Benjamin Andrew and Carmen Pierce from Caernarfon gained an elite premium of 9.05 with their dressage filly foal, De la Hoyde Florence (Florencio x Negro) who was bred by Benjamin and owned by Benjamin and Carmen.
Benjamin is delighted with Florence, he said: “She is a lovely foal and is a great mover. She is only 2 months old so I had assumed that older, bigger foals might get higher scores. I am really pleased that she got the elite.”
De la Hoyde Florence will be produced by Benjamin for young horse classes. She is the fourth foal he has bred from his mare, Saffron. Benjamin added: “All four of them were good foals and the eldest, a four-year-old by Landtanzer is now being produced by Nikki Crisp. I have the other three at home.”
Valeroyal Secret Man (Future Gravitas x Aimbry Chester) took a higher first premium of 8.96 in the eventing section for owner breeder, Lynn Salmon of Whitegate. This colt foal was exhibited by Kathryn Doyle.
Colt foal, Olistar’s Diego (Olistar’s Disneyland x Waterman) gained a higher first premium of 8.95 in the dressage section for the Knutsford based, Olistar Stud. Breeder, Oliver Gibney “I am really pleased with the foal, he is top class. I am a small breeder and work hard to breed quality old fashioned horses that will go on to have long careers.” Olistar’s Diego is by Oliver’s homebred stallion, Olistar’s Disneyland, out of his mare, Viney. Oliver continued: “Olistar’s Diego is for sale, he was selected for the Brightwells sale and will go to the British Breeders Network, Great British Mare and Foal show at the beginning of September.”
Sandra Tinker of Fosshey Stables in Antrobus returned to the Futurity for the third time with her three-year-old gelding Fortunatus (Floriscount x Der Lord) in the dressage section for a higher first premium of 8.90.
Fortunatus achieved an elite premium as a yearling and a two-year-old. Sandra said: “It was a real shame to miss out on the third elite, but his score of 8.90 is more than enough to progress to equine bridge selection.
“The Futurity has provided me with some very helpful comments. I find that when you are looking at the horse day in and day out there are things that you don’t notice. The input from the experienced Futurity evaluators and vet is invaluable”.
Sandra plans to have Fortunatus produced for dressage by a professional rider. She added: “He will be backed in the next few months and then will hack about at home and be aimed at the young horse classes and equine bridge next year. We will take it steady with him as he is very big and we don’t want to rush him”.
Best two-year old at Reaseheath was Sarah Jane Ford’s colt, I’m A Believer (Cabrio van de Heffinck x Diarado) with a higher first premium of 8.90 in the jumping section. I’m A Believer was bred by Charlotte Swanston and Paula Charlton. Endurance entry, Sally Mellor’s filly, Malala (Mahaala x unknown) headed the yearlings at Reaseheath with a higher first premium of 8.50.
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British Breeding Futurity News 