Sire Toronto (Now or Never M (Nimmerdor/Voltaire)/Belisar/Solaris xx) jumped to 1.30 m, his sire to 1.40m, and grandsire Nimmerdor + great grandsire Voltaire to 1.60 m. This cross between Now or Never M and Saros or Belisar has been repeated several times, and for good reason – those horses have been successful not just in the show ring,  but in the breeding shed as well. More-than-3/4 sibling Belfast’s granddam is shared with Toronto, and he has recent show results to 1.40 m in Italy. Stallion Valentino not only had success to 1.40 m, and a great deal of it, but has been such an excellent progenitor of blood without losing power, that his semen has been imported to Europe with son Viscount being highly praised both in North America and Europe. Another 3/4 sibling, Praise aka Vallado, had a highly successful career in the upper level hunters and has produced a sire line of his own already, with stallion son Validation S and grandson Vindication S.

Her damsire Cambridge (Caletto I/Marlon) jumped to 1.40 m and almost 2/3 of his offspring on Horsetelex are in sport with the vast majority showing at 1.50 m or greater. These are stunning numbers among stallions today, especially given the number of horses who are sold and their records lost! Cambridge also produced the illustrious Catoki, who is still showing in the 1.60 m jumpers and has gained popularity through the success of not only his offspring in the show jumpers, but also those in the upper level hunters. Going by HorseTelex numbers, Catoki also has more than 2/3 of his offspring in sport with the vast majority showing at 1.50 m or greater! He is currently ranked at #47 on the WBFSH Show Jumping Sires list. Son Chambertin sired Chacco Blue, who has jumped to International Grand Prix Level (1.60 m) and more importantly has proven to an excellent sire. “He has given to the next generation a wonderful technique, front leg technique, and the most obvious thing is the positive attitude to the sport” – Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst, Chacco Blue’s rider. Also sired by Cambridge are Cacique and Caligula II, the former a successful dressage competitor and sire, and the latter equally so with jumpers.

I don’t believe Caletto I or Marlon need much of an introduction – Caletto I is not only a Cor de la Byrere son, but one that has established himself as a fantastic producer many generations removed – Caletto I and II both are common in the pedigrees of both top competitors and top producers. Marlon represents the M-line for Holsteiners, as he was among the blooded additions to the warmblood studbooks in the 1950’s and 60’s. He is old blood, and his presence brings the spice of blood to the equation.

Lacapo (Landgraf I/Capitano) in an interesting addition, especially for a mare that jumped to 1.60 m – he was a dressage sire legend, top-level jumping bloodlines or not. In fact, in the Netherlands Lacapo founded a dressage dynasty through his son, Flemmingh, and his grandson, Krack C. Landgraf I is along the vein of Caletto I/II – he can be found in many of the top performers today; off the top of my head, Lordan and Verdi NOP come to mind – both international competitors in the top 200 of the rankings at FEI level Grand Prix competitions (1.60 m).