BLACK JACK DK
The 2024 Grande Semaine has come to a close! BLACK JACK DK and JOKER D'EUSKADI finished among the top performers, with offspring of CANDY DE NANTUEL and UNTOUCHABLE 27 taking center stage.
The golden 5-year-old generation from GFE : JET DES FORETS, JOKER D’EUSKADI, and BLACK JACK DK, showcased their qualities. BLACK JACK finished 2nd in his generation, JOKER earned the "Très Bon" mention and placed 9th in the Championship, while JET DES FORETS, despite a fault, performed excellently throughout the season, positioning him among the best of his generation.
ITOKI DE RIVERLAND, accustomed to podium finishes as Champion at 2 and 3 years old, 3rd at 4, and Vice-Champion at 5, narrowly missed out this year due to a small mistake on day two. We look forward to seeing him return to the 7-year-old circuit. He was joined by IDAHO DE MENJO, a brother to HOKKAIDO DE MENJO by UNTOUCHABLE, who recovered from a first-round misunderstanding with a flawless second round after an impressive season, boasting 12 clear rounds out of 14 ! HOKKAIDO DE MENJO and MACHO MAN also delivered strong performances in the 7-year-old classes, though they faced some bad luck in a championship hampered by its regulations.
If one stallion left a lasting mark on the 2024 breeding week, it was CANDY DE NANTUEL !
Ranked 4th best sire of young horses before the final,CANDY DE NANTUEL, along with UNTOUCHABLE, is one of the few stallions in the SHF Top 10 with over a quarter of his offspring qualifying for the final.
He had the luxury of placing three offspring in the Top 10 of the 6-year-old final : Candice vd Celiebrudge (CANDY x Lupicor) was the best of her generation, with Idaho du Grimeux (CANDY x KANNAN) and Ixel de Nesque (CANDY x Quaprice) also making the finals, alongside Ioke des Forets (CANDY x Untouchable M) and Iglou de Beugner (CANDY x Controe). Joker d’Amko (CANDY x L'Arc de Triomphe) was Vice-Champion for 5-year-olds, Jalisco de Coquerie (CANDY x Helios de la Cour) placed 7th, and Jango Desbois (CANDY x Vondeen) was a finalist along with Jolie Fee de Kreisker (CANDY x Quickly de Kreisker), who ranked in the Top 10 of her generation across the season. Kandy du Mesnildot (CANDY x Nartago) was 2nd in the 4-year-old Criterium. Keep Cool de Lil (CANDY x Mylord Carthago), Ilane de Gruse (CANDY x Jumpy des Fontaines), and Ilpaz de Gruse (CANDY x Concorde) also ranked well in the Cycles Libres.
CANDY DE NANTUEL was one of the most represented sires in the 7-year-old Championship, with five offspring : Handy Del Colle (CANDY x Come On), Hop et Hop du Moulin (CANDY x Jivaro du Rouet), Hopeful de Blondel (CANDY x Lauterbach), Histoire Deux Villes (CANDY x Mylord Carthago), and Handy de Siju (CANDY x Canturo).
UNTOUCHABLE 27, ranked as the 2nd best sire before the Grande Semaine with over 25% of his offspring reaching the final, also made a significant impact through the quality of his progeny.
Igy de la Roque (UNTOUCHABLE x KANNAN) was crowned 6-year-old Champion, Joris des Monceaux (UNTOUCHABLE x Mozart des Hayettes) finished 4th among the 5-year-olds, and Jellina de Riverland (UNTOUCHABLE x Diamant de Semilly) placed 12th. Finalists included Johnston Semilly (UNTOUCHABLE x Quick Star), Iris Manathis (UNTOUCHABLE x Calvaro), and In Touch d’Adriers (CANDY x Toulon). In the 4-year-old category, Karmeliet The One (UNTOUCHABLE x Ogano S.) placed 6th, while Kilkenny TD (UNTOUCHABLE x Quattro de Riverland), Kuroo d'Aunou (UNTOUCHABLE x Jarnac), Kaid de la Cour (UNTOUCHABLE x Lifestyle), Konivence de Felines (UNTOUCHABLE x Sherif d'Elle), Kelfie de Vains (UNTOUCHABLE x Allegreto), Kalifornium de Vayrie (UNTOUCHABLE x Norway de la Lande), and Kacharel LC (UNTOUCHABLE x Lancado) also performed admirably. Isko Delorme (UNTOUCHABLE x Sandro Boy) finished 3rd in the 6-year-old Hunter category, with Java du Fort Vert (UNTOUCHABLE x Alfa d'Elle) taking 2nd. In addition, Instant d'Amour (UNTOUCHABLE x Quaprice), Unstagram de Tarsy (UNTOUCHABLE x Volcan Rouge), Indy Jones du Reve (UNTOUCHABLE x Vas Y Donc Longane), and Imperatrice d'Amour (UNTOUCHABLE x Prix d'Excellence) were all ranked in the Cycles Libres.
The success of CICAVE DU TALUS offspring confirms that the best is yet to come : Katheen (CICAVE x Heartbreaker), Izarra Tame (CICAVE x Old Chap Tame), Jumbo du Mesnildot (CICAVE x Nartago), and Kalya de la Liserie (CICAVE x Panama Tame) were all finalists. Kanaille de Maistre (CICAVE x Mylord Carthago) was crowned Champion of the 5-year-old Cycles Libres.
BALOU DU ROUET had two offspring in the Top 10 for 4-year-olds : Karaba Pam (BALOU x Arko) became Champion, Kawaii Semilly (BALOU x Diamant) placed 5th, and other finalists included Kala de Rochetaillee (BALOU x Fergar Mail), Kep Danfer (BALOU x Clinton), and Java de l'Eyre (BALOU x Jadis de Toscane). Iberique des Rondets (BALOU x Air Jordan) was rated "Excellent" in the 6-year-old category, while Iliade de Ryes (BALOU x Totoche du Banney) earned a "Very Good" rating.
CORNET OBOLENSKY, following KANNAN, was the second most-represented sire in the 7-year-old category, with his son Kokoriko d'Orchival (CORNET OBOLENSKY x Acord II) winning the 4-year-old Criterium.
The young generation of UP TO YOU has shown great quality, with three horses competing in the 7-year-old Championship : Héroïne des Forets (UP TO YOU x Ready Boy des Forets), Hacuna Matata (UP TO YOU x Quick Star), and Hortensia de Grisy (UP TO YOU x Quidam de Revel). Just Wow (UP TO YOU x Comme Il Faut) ranked 9th among the 5-year-olds, and Kiss en Vol Pachavert (UP TO YOU x Vigo Cece) was among the best 4-year-olds, while Kajula du Gesvres (BISQUET BALOU x Qualisco III) finished 8th.
The young production of CORNET'S PRINZ continues to impress. Notable horses include Java Blue (CORNETS PRINZ x Oldmaster de Riverland) – rated "Excellent" – and Jad'Or de Lobama (CORNETS PRINZ x Damiro B), who led the Top 100 before the final, as well as Just Ice Paese Verde (CORNETS PRINZ x Quasimodo).
Our recent recruits, VIVALDI DU SEIGNEUR and APARDI, also made an impact with two of their offspring : Kocktail de Laume (VIVALDI x Pezetas du Rouet) placed 13th, and Kheops Guibretière (VIVALDI x KANNAN), Kokt El Pachavert (APARDI x Flipper d'Elle), and Kapardi de la Folie (APARDI x Ideal de la Loge) were all finalists.
Congratulations to the riders, owners, breeders, and all the teams for these excellent results !
