THREE ELITE PREMIUMS FOR SHOWJUMPERS AT SOLIHULL 2 BEF FUTURITY
Wednesday 11 September 2013
Three showjumping youngsters scored elite premiums on the second day of the Baileys Horse Feeds/ British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity at Solihull Riding Club on the 27th August.
A total of seven youngsters were awarded elite premiums at Solihull 2 across the disciplines. An Elite premium (9.00 or above out of 10.00) indicates that the horse has the potential and outlook to perform at international level.
The top scoring showjumping entry at Solihull 2 went to Christine Mart from the Greenacres Stud in Walton on Trent for her colt foal, Greenacres Cola Zingo. He scored an elite premium of 9.15. Christine bred Cola Zingo from her Caletto II mare, Voices Retto, Christine said, “All our mares are performance horses. Voices Retto jumped both in the UK and abroad very successfully, she was on the Equine Pathway and has won at 1.35 and 1.40. She was in the finals at the Spanish Sunshine tour and came 2nd in the 7 year old class in Belgium. She injured herself so we have started breeding from her”. Cola Zingo is Voices Retto’s first foal, he is by German stallion, Cola Zero.
Christine said, “It was a very nice surprise to get an elite Futurity premium with Cola Zero, showjumpers don’t often get awarded elite premiums so we are ecstatic. As he has got an elite we will keep him entire and he will go to Geoff Glazzard to be produced for stallion licensing. It is our intention to take Cola Zingo back to the Futurity as a three year old with the intention of getting him onto the equine bridge. He will be produced for competition by a professional rider”.
Filly foal, Secret Engagement took an elite premium of 9.09 in the showjumping section at Solihull 2 for Philip Tuckwell and Susan Phelps. Secret Engagement is by Diarado and out of a mare, Shutterduck, by Sir Shutterfly. Susan said, “I own Shutterduck, she is four now and Secret Engagement is her second foal. Her yearling, Midnight Engagement, scored a higher first premium at the Futurity. Philip also bred Shutterduck’s dam, Moonlight Engagement who is currently eventing at advanced level. I am over the moon with Secret Engagement and hopefully she will follow in her grandmother’s footsteps in eventing. We will see how far she can go”.
A colt foal by Silvester gained an elite premium at Solihull 2 in the showjumping section. Silvesters Midday Cowboy owned and bred by Katarina Burden from Blackthorne, scored 9.00. Katarina, a forensic accountant bought Silvesters Midday Cowboy’s dam, Findon Findependence to showjump, she said, “Findon Findependence is very well bred, she is by Zenturio. I bought her as a showjumping prospect to compete but I just haven’t had the time and so I put her in foal to Silvester. I am very pleased with the Silvesters Midday Cowboy he is just gorgeous. Both the mare and foal are for sale, I’m hoping they will go to a good competition home”.
The Futurity Equine Bridge is a new initiative for 2013 and will run as an extension of the Futurity evaluations. The Futurity Equine Bridge seeks to provide top Futurity graduates with the direction and support they will need as 4 and 5 year olds so that they begin their early years under saddle in a way that allows for sustained physical and mental development. In order to be eligible for the Futurity Equine Bridge all horses must obtain two scores of 8.5 or above, one of which must have been obtained in their three year old year.
With entries limited to 60 at each evaluation venue, places are keenly sought after. Entries are categorised by discipline with age groups for foals, yearlings, two and three year olds and each horse is evaluated in hand and loose in a safe indoor environment as well as undergoing a vet’s assessment.
The BEF’s Head of Equine Development, Jan Rogers, said: “The Futurity continues to go from strength to strength. The results at Solihull were very encouraging and we are finding that the horses our breeders are producing have the range of talents that are likely to be needed by the growing base of riders who wish to participate in horse sports”.
The BEF Futurity Evaluations are held at 16 venues throughout the UK and young horses go home with a BEF Premium (grade), a stylish rosette and a detailed, informative score sheet. An attractive certificate to keep and frame follows on after the event. All results are published on the fully searchable British Breeding website. www.britishbreeding.org.
Image: Greenacres Cola Zingo credit Kevin Sparrow
