By Christopher Hector
Photography: Peter Llewellyn
Recently Hippomundo set out to find the world's greatest mares, looking at all international competitors thus far in 2021, but all this really did was highlight just how dodgy any stats from the covid period are going to be.
Their number one mare was Urquelle Deux vh Polderhof by Tenor Manciais (damsire of Kashmir van't Schuttershof) out of a mare by the Trakehner, Schönberg. But it would seem that Urquelle's success is largely due to the efforts of Freddy Demuynck and his family. Mr Demuynck not only bred Urquelle's most successful competitor, Armageddon vh Leeuwerikenhof (by Amour He vh Leeuwerikenhof), but Freddy and his daughter, Joy, also competed the gelding up to 1m45 level. Indeed all seven offspring have been competed by members of the Demuynck family.
No doubt Armageddon is a pleasant chap, and since he is by the home-bred son of VDL Silverstone, out of a mare by the Ahorn Z son, Dreamstreet, has probably more than paid the way with his earnings on €4,683 – but...
The 1m35 competitor, Joy's Dreamgirl, Urquelle's daughter by Kashmir van Schuttershof, has won slightly more, €5,979 but the rest of Urquelle's brood would be struggling to pay their feed costs: Hanne, another by Kashmir, has won €2,661; Merryweather, by Emerald, has earned €1,312 while Nashville (Nabab de Rêve) has won €260, Nougat, another Nabab, has won €240 and Kaffeeaulait (Kashmir) brought home €170, so far.
The other 'great' mare on the Hippomundo list, also with seven international competitors, is Cafe Creme, by a somewhat obscure son of Carthago, Creve Coeur (out of a Calypso II mare), but she is well-bred on the dam line, Athlet Z over Lord. Cafe Creme appears to have a greater claim on our attention... but 'great'?
Cafe Creme, herself, competed up to 1m45 with Phillip Lejeune. Her most successful offspring so far this year, is Blueberry de Hus by HH Conrad (Con Air x Locato), competing 1m60 in the USA with Nicholas Dello Joio, and with winnings of €25,944.
Another product of Haras de Hus, Copacabana de Hus by Cosinhus (Cornet Obolensky x Gamblers Cup xx) competes at 1m50 level in Mexico with Arturo Parada Vallejo, winnings, €5,850.
The five others are Classical de Kreisker (by the Diamant de Sémilly son Ugobak des Baleines, out of a Heartbreaker mare) who has won €1,244; Excaliber de Hus (by Eldorado de Hus, by Diarado out of a Balou de Rouet mare, €226; Dubai de Hus (by the l'Arc de Triomphe son, Tsunami de Hus, dam by Argentinus) who has won €1,010 at 1m40 level; Constantin de Hus (Ugobak) €478; and Broadway de Hus by the Quidam de Revel son, Seigneur du Grand Pré, jumping 1m35 but with no recorded winnings... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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