Henton Class Act (Contendro - Henton Elite x Escudo I x Distelfink), bred by Dave and Bridget Sutton of Henton Lodge
By Sally Reid
Photography: Anne Stewart; Laurie Hemphill
The New Zealand Hanoverian Society’s 2019 classification tour took place recently with overseas assessors Dr Werner Schade and Volker Ehlers joined by New Zealand-based classifiers Angela Smith BVSc and Robin Potter. It included mare and foal inspections, mare performance tests, mare families and – for the first time – approvals for colt and stallion licensing. Colts are still subject to veterinary sign-off; more about them in a future issue.
According to Robin Potter, “The team was almost overwhelmed by the quality of the horses presented – and especially with the top horses. They were also impressed by the quality of the Thoroughbred mares and could see that in our mare base, coming through.”
Three ‘premium’ mares
Three mares from the 20 inspected received premium-level scores of eight or more. The very beautiful River Park Waileah (Worldly - Remi London Attraction x Londonderry) was the top young mare and best studbook mare. She is owned and was bred by Renai Hart of River Park Farm in Huapai, just north of Auckland, where her sire, Worldly (Weltmeyer - Boleisa x Brentano) stands. This stallion is very special, and New Zealand is lucky to have him.
Worldly was bred by Rolf Böndel in Germany, and performance-tested in 2000 at Adelheidsdorf, scoring the highest marks in dressage and winning the title of reserve champion overall. He has has sired 38 State premium mares and 15 licensed sons, and his gorgeous New Zealand daughter, RP Waileah, bears a strong resemblance to him. “I bred her to add to my broodmares,” says Renai Hart. “But she will be ridden first.” Waileah’s dam, Remi London Attraction, was bred by Remi Stud in Queensland and, at her Hanoverian classification in Australia, scored 9.50 for type, 9.50 for walk, and 9.50 for trot.
The top older mare was Dolly Blue (Diarado - Chance For Ever x Chacco Blue), a very exciting import from Paul Schockemöhle’s Gestut Lewitz. Dolly is based with international eventer Clarke Johnstone, who competes her in showjumping. She is pure quality, and another German horse that we’re lucky to have in New Zealand.
The top performance test mare was Matthews Hanoverians’ rising star Georgia MH (Gymnastik Star - Rain Dance MH x River Dance), bred by Judith Matthews. This six-year-old is ridden by Reece Downham, and has just won the Level 2 amateur title at the NZ dressage championships.
Two other beautiful mares were performance-tested and received elite candidate status: Matthews Hanoverians’ Waimarie MH (Worldly - Remi London Attraction x Londonderry), who is a full sister to the tour’s top mare River Park Waileah, and Henton Class Act (Contendro - Henton Elite x Escudo I x Distelfink), bred by Dave and Bridget Sutton of Henton Lodge.
SF Fürstin Star (Fürsten-Look - Sugar Babe x Samarant)
Two super mares shared the top Rheinland honours: Diamond Diva (Donnerubin - Dazzle x Dynamit) bred by Sarah Catherwood of Matamata, and the lovely chestnut Isabelle (Anamour x Ramzes II) bred by Jenny Laycock of Nelson.
The top Thoroughbred mare, Jandella xx (Postponed xx x King Delamere xx) especially impressed the assessors, as did the standard of other NZTB mares presented for inspection. “They really liked the type and quality,” says Robin Potter. “And Jandella’s sire, Postponed, is a big hit with Kiwi eventers at the moment.”
Honouring a mare family
For the second year in succession, the family honours went to Stoneylea Farm’s wonderful German-bred EM Stoneylea Lusenka, this time with her outstanding Weltmeyer daughter Stoneylea Welt Princess, and her granddaughter Stoneylea Vitality (Vitalis). ..
