Elite bonanza at Catherson BEF Futurity evaluations

On the second of two busy days for the BEF Futurity evaluations at Catherston Stud in Hampshire, 9 youngsters were awarded elite premiums. 7 went to potential dressage horses from foals to 3-year-olds and 1 apiece to eventing and showjumping youngsters.

Filly foal Desire (Dimaggio/Fidertanz) headed the entries with an elite score of 9.42 for renowned producer Darren Mattia from Hereford. He has an excellent hit rate for elite premiums this year.

The evaluators commented on the foal’s “lift and suspension through her limbs and whole body in trot”. She was awarded a 10 for her trot.

Keystone Rhea (Rhodium/Dimaggio) a yearling attained an elite score of 9.33 for Sally Barnes. The filly was bred by Suzanne Lavendera. The evaluators were again particularly impressed with her trot, praising her “good articulation and suspension in her trot”.

2-year-old dressage sports pony, Woodlander Wales (Woodlander Wavavoom/Talon Teifion) scored his second elite Futurity premium of 9.30. He also scored an elite premium as a foal at the Hartpury Futurity. This colt is owned and was bred by Lynne Crowden, he was exhibited by Carsten Sandrock.

Keith Taylor’s dressage filly foal, Seagry Donnadiva (Don Frederic/Dimaggio) scored an elite premium of 9.25. The “modern, long-lined filly uses her whole body well in all three gaits.”

Colt foal, Florian (Floriscount/Showmaker) scored an elite premium of 9.11 in the dressage section for his owner and breeder Joan Farquharson of the Forest Lodge Stud in Shaftesbury. Comments about him focussed on, “His uphill modern frame with excellent use of the forearm”.

Ben St John-James scored his second elite premium of the two days at Catherston with colt foal, Versace (Voice/Rascalino) with a premium of 9.09.

3-year-old Kannan/Perval son, the potential showjumper Kannanball (pictured), scored a second elite premium of 9.06, beating his previous elite of 9.04 last year. Kannanball is owned by his breeder Karen Niklasson from Lambourn. The evaluators said “he has a good technique and use of body with plenty of power”.

Colt foal, Lorenzo (Lemony’s Nicket/Wolkentanz) scored the final dressage elite of the day with a score of 9.05. He was bred by his owner Gillian Wallace.

The elite eventing score of the day went to colt foal, Graffite (Grafenstolz/Tycoon) who scored 9.00 for his breeders Margaret Allen and Jules Cranfield. He is now owned by Margaret and was exhibited by Ben St John-James. The evaluators commented on “his good ground cover in all gaits”.

For further information on the BEF Futurity Evaluations, visit www.britishbreeding.org.

For Futurity images, visit photographer Kevin Sparrow’s website.

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