Season Finale: Lilly Express DKS, Hopscotch DKS, Ombre de Quidam DKS

The season has finished for our three working girls, deserved holiday is on!!

Lilly Express DKS (Baloubet de Rouet x Cento) finished with a bang, winning her 1.35 m class of 115 participants at AEC Normandy Winter Meet! This was just continuation of good form for the 9 year old mare, steadily rising since the competitions restarted in the summer-she recorded a total of 3 victories and was placed 11 times, out of 27 starts in courses up to 1.40m. That means she was “in the money” more than 50% of the starts and often in very strong company!

Hopscotch DKS (Orlando x Clinton) had an equally busy season and she also finished it well, placing three times in the last couple of weeks in her classes. In total, she had 5 wins and 3 placings since the summer re-start, jumping up to 1.30m. More importantly, Hopscotch who is super capable, but a bit green, is showing steady progress in many areas, slowly becoming more mature.

Ombre de Quidam DKS (Quidam de Revel x Cento) had an action-packed summer, jumping ever more demanding classes for her age group. She went on a well deserved holiday a bit earlier, after finishing her outdoor season in 10th place overall in Cycle Classique for 6 year olds. 8 wins and 2 placing out of 20 starts in classes up to 1.35 is a show record that speaks for itself!

Our thanks go to Axelle Lagoubie, Romain Bourdoncle and Tip Top Cheval Team for what they achieved with our “girl power trio” during this year and we wish them all the best for the next season!

We are so looking forward to the new year with these three capable mares and can’t wait to see what else they can do!

Lilly Express DKS

Hopscotch DKS

Ombre de Quidam DKS

Belgrade DKS Becomes a licensed AES Stallion!

BELGRADE DKS (Darco x Montender) is now an AES licenced stallion!

Born in 2018 (on 1st of April, no less), this guy is strong and gentle at the same time. During the summer we worked him from the ground and he demonstrated a great attitude and a will to learn. Powerful jump and respect for the fence were also evident from the first try.

In late summer he went on for a learning trip to two specialized stables, with two different goals: one, to accept the rider and two, to get ready for licensing. He left the first yard with flying colors, gladly accepting the rider and proceeded to the second, where he concluded his training by getting himself licensed!

During this training trip (he is now in the field again, horsing around with his friends) he has confirmed what we saw from the beginning: great intelligence, workmanlike attitude and excellent jumping skills!

This comes as no surprise, knowing that his father is great Darco (Lugano van la Roche x Codex) one of the most influential stallions of today, while his grandmother is Belle Clara DKS (Concorde x Budweiser 3), a mare that competed up to 1.50 and won so many times in the USA. Based on those credentials, his dam, Belle Starr DKS (Montender x Concorde) entered our breeding program directly and gave us this lovely colt, her first.

Named after DK’s home town, Belgrade DKS is a fifth generation of horses from the same dam-line that Dejan has worked with and we were charmed by him from the beginning.

That he is now a licensed stallion makes us ever so proud!

Normandy Horse Show Part 2

Two more DKS "girls" representing us well at the amazing Normandie Horse show today:

1) Hopscotch DKS (Orlando - Clinton) - clear in the morning class in the big ring.

2) Lilly Express DKS (Baloubet du Rouet - Cento; mother of Gilly from my last post) - clear and fast in the BIG 1.35 m speed class. Without looking like she was going fast, she ended 6th out of 81 entries! Thank you Axelle Lagoubie and Romain Bourdoncle.

As a bonus, the foal championship at the same show was won by a foal by Ekano DKS*Semilly.

Normandy Horse Show

The DKS "girls" took care of business at the Normandie Horse Show today!

Ombre de Quidam DKS (Quidam de Revel - Cento) - easy clear in the stout 6-year-old Cycle Classique (up to 1.35 m in height)!

Gilly Express DKS (Diamant de Semilly - Baloubet du Rouet) - clear round in the 4-year-old Cycle Classique. Gilly has now gone 7 for 7 clear rounds in her first competitive season.

Interestingly, both girls are from the same family as Ekano DKS*Semilly. And Gilly's dam, 9-year-old Lilly Express DKS, will be competing later in the week.

MANY, MANY, MANY thanks to Axelle Lagoubie, Amy Graham, Romain Bourdoncle, Emmanuel Bertho, and their terrific teams for doing such wonderful work in producing our horses.

DKS Family at Auvers

Young horses bred by DK Sporthorses competed again last week at Auvers. And again we had three horses that went clear and one that made a few mistakes. We are happy with all of them!

This time, Gilly Express DKS was double clear with Emmanuel Bertho in the saddle, jumping clasess for 4 year old horses.

Ekano DKS Semilly, owned by Richard and Anne-Sophie Levallois and ridden by Alexis Gourdin was double clear again in 6yo qualifications, while Axelle Lagoubie and Ombre de Quidam DKS were clear the first day, but made some mistakes on the second day of competition in the same category.

Forget-Me-Not DKS, owned by William Leparquier, jumped 5yo clasess and went double clear with Jean Hinet in the saddle.

We congratulate to all riders, trainers and owners!

DKS Family at St. Lô

DKS family invades Normandy!

The show jumping season in France has resumed this week at Pole Hippique de Saint Lo in Normandy. And we were there with no less than 4 DKS bred horses jumping from 25-29 May 2020!

The fun fact is that all four horses come from the same family: the big star Ekano DKS Semilly, the future star Ombre de Quidam DKS, the up-and-coming Forget-me-not DKS, as well as the first timer Gilly Express DKS, all share the same mother/grandmother!

The dam of Ekano DKS Semilly (Kannan x Cumano) is Kumana DKS (Cumano x Cento), whose mother is Centina (Cento x Careras).

Forget-me-not DKS (Diamant de Semilly x Cumano) is also out of Kumana DKS, which makes her a half-sister of Ekano DKS Semilly, while Ombre de Quidam DKS (Quidam de Revel x Cento) is Kumana’s DKS half-sister!

And finally, the dam of Gilly Express DKS is Lilly Express DKS, who is also by Centina!

Ekano and Ombre had two starts each in 6yo qualifiers and were all clear, 4yo Gilly had her first career start and went clear, while Forget-me-not jumped well in her 5yo qualifiers, but made one or two "green" mistakes.

A great week for DKSporthorses, we are happy and proud! Congratulations to the owners of Ekano and Forget-me-not and to all the riders/trainers!

Ekano DKS wins "Masters des Etalons" and named Champion of France for 5 year olds at Fontainebleau!

Ekano DKS (Kannan-Cumano), now owned by the world-renowned Haras de Couvains (Semilly) was named Champion of France for 5 year olds in the Masters des Etalons” at Fontainebleau, ridden by Alexis Gourdain. In winning this title, Ekano DKS follows in the footsteps of his sire Kannan, who was crowned Champion of France in 2005. Ekano DKS is a Selle Français approved stallion, labeled “Tres Promotteur” by the studbook and is part of its “Programme Génétique Avenir.” He stands at Haras de Couvains close to Saint-Lô, France. We extend heartfelt congratulations to Richard and Sophie Levallois as well as Alexis Gourdan.

Ekano DKS is the 2018 Champion of Normandy!

Our first foal produced in France, Ekano DKS is the 2018 Champion of Normandy for 4-year-old males!!!

He comes from a rare alchemy of the best European bloodlines: Kannan x Cumano x Cento, three great show jumping champions, all three ranked in the Top 100 World Stallions. He was sold to Sophie and Richard Levallois of Haras de Semilly, and they have done an outstanding job bringing him along (masterful riding from Alexis Gourdin does not hurt either 😀). In 2017, Ekano DKS was approved for breeding by Selle Français Stud book. He is by Kannan and out of Kumana DKS (Cumano-Cento), a crossing that we have grown to love because of the superior and smart horses it produces.  In past years, Kumana gave us beautiful foals:  Forget-Me-Not DKS (Diamant de Semilly, she is still with us and she is for sale); Game Boy DKS (Diamant de Semilly, sold to Mr. Egbert Schep 2 years ago); and Hanley DKS (full brother of Ekano DKS, recently sold to Christine and Gilles Croguennec). This year, Kumana produced a beautiful colt by Nabab de Reve, Ikano DKS.

Click here for video of the 2018 Championship of Normandy!

DKS Welcomes the First Foal of 2018: Darco-Montender-Concorde!

DKS welcomed a new colt (Darco-Montender-Concorde) on April 1, 2018 at Highland Farms in Little Rock, Arkansas, thanks to the expert care of Leslie Carter.

Darco brings power and stamina to this foal, as well as honesty and intelligence, integral to our breeding philosophy of Heart, Scope and Mind. Partnered with Ludo Phillippaerts since the age of 5, highlights of the duo’s success included 7th place at the Barcelona Olympics, 2nd at Spruce Meadows/Calgary, 6th in the World Equestrian Games and Stockholm, and countless wins and placings at World Cup and international Grand Prixs. This foal's sire is one of the most sought after stallions in the world, having topped the World Breeding Federation's Sire list for years, and appearing on that list since its inception in 1995.

This foal's dam has been dedicated to breeding from the start, but her dam has had an illustrious career in the hands of Holly Shepherd of Accolade Farms in Grand Bay, Alabama and we are confident that she's transmitted much of the same bravery and energy that her mother has. Belle Clara DKS (Concorde-Berkeley-Budweiser) loves to win.  She competed in her first 1.50 m Grand Prix at age 9 (finishing 2nd!), and she has since been named the Open Jumper Circuit Champion at the Gulf Coast Winter Circuit in 2015 and 2016.  She is also a two-time winner of the demanding Jumper Derby at the Gulf Coast Winter Circuit.  Before retiring in perfect health to begin breeding full-time, she won the Welcome Stake at the Venice Equestrian Tour and placed in two Grand Prix classes at the 2017 Gulf Coast Winter Circuit.

We can't wait to see what this guy can do. 

2018 DKS Brochure Now Available!

We're excited to announce that we have finished our most recent brochure to tell you about all of our wonderful mares, young horses, and foals. It should give you some more info about who is doing what in our growing horse family! It has plenty of pictures and updates, and if you're shopping, prices! The brochure can be accessed online at the following link!

Happy New Year! DKS Looking Forward to an Exciting 2018 Foaling Season!

Dejan Krunic Sporthorses is looking forward to an exciting foaling season in 2018, with five foals expected between March and June. Of course, we know what we're hoping for, but we also know that our friends with their own plans have great hopes for some of these foals. We've had a lot of interest in our program lately, and have been talking to several people about reserving foals or purchasing them once they are born. We have also had several discussions about collaborations with buyers who would like to see certain breedings come out of our program. If you have questions about this, or if we can be of any assistance to you as you consider your needs, please use the Contact page to get in touch with us. We will be happy to discuss these and any of our future foals with you! Without further ado, we give you foals Dejan Krunic Sporthorses expects to welcome in 2018!

• Darco - Montender - Concorde: Due April 15, 2018. This foal is out of a terrific American mare line that has produced multiple Grand Prix horses and even one World Cup horse now ridden by Darragh Kenny. The beautiful Montender mare Belle Starr DKS was dedicated to breeding from the start, but her mother Belle Clara DKS (by Concorde) is a special, small mare with a huge heart who has won a LOT up to the 1.50m level. This colt will be born in the US. The price in the US will be €15.000 if a colt, and €20.000 if a filly. If you wish to have the horse transported to Europe, the price will be €22.500 if a colt and €25,000 if a filly. 
   
• Nabab de Reve - Cumano - Cento: Due March 31, 2018. This foal will be out of Kumana DKS (the same mother as 2017's Hanley DKS, the full brother to Ekano DKS - a Selle Français approved stallion). We would prefer to keep this foal if a filly, but would sell at a higher price. If the foal is a colt, the price will be €12.500. 
   
• Diamant de Semilly - Clinton - Heartbreaker: Due June 26, 2018. The mare, Bella Vita van de Molendreef, is the full sister to Beezie Madden's former ride Via Volo, who competed in the Olympics, PanAm Games, and was 2011 Horse of the Year. Bella Vita has produced several outstanding foals herself, including the BWP approved stallion Nic Nac (owned by Van de Heffinck). Her fantastic Kannan colt from this year was purchased by Arnaud Evain (director of the FENCES Elite Auction and Groupe France Elevage (GFE) Stallion Syndicate. I adore this mare, as she always produces excellent foals for us - but always colts! If she finally produces a filly for us, she is not for sale. If the foal is a colt, the price will be €15.000.
   
• Diamant de Semilly - Cassini I - Lansing: Due June 14, 2018. This will be the third foal for our lovely Holsteiner mare Beauté de la Vie (Cassini I - Lansing - Cor de la Bryère). Her first colt, Drago 123 (by Darco) was just sold at the Holstein Elite Riding Auction in Neumunster, Germany in November. Beauté's second foal, Kasalla DKS by Casall, was selected for and sold at the FENCES Elite Auction in 2017. We are very excited about Beauté's cross with Diamant de Semilly Beauté always produces very chic-looking goals that are very careful and have lots of blood. Even her Darco was stylish! The price for this foal will be €13.000.
   
• Verdi - Concorde - Budweiser: due June 9, 2018. This foal's mother is the spectacular Belle Clara DKS, just recently retired after a stellar competitive career and now fully dedicated to breeding. Belle Clara DKS (by Concorde) is the special, small mare with a huge heart that we mentioned above. She is the two-time winner of the grueling Jumper Derby at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic, and she has competed throughout the United States and won extensively at the 1.50m level. The price for this foal will be €12.500.
  
  We are excited to see what happens over the next few months! We will be sure to keep you posted through pictures on our Facebook page and on Twitter. Again, please Contact Us if you have any questions about these or any of our other spectacular horses for sale! 

Drago 123 (Darco out of Beauté de la Vie) Sold at Holstein Verband Elite Riding Horse Auction!

We are thrilled to announce that one of our foals, Drago 123 (Darco out of Beauté de la Vie) born in July 2012, was sold on the Holstein Verband Elite Riding Horse Auction in November 2017 for €50,000!

Drago has the spirit and instincts of a true show jumper, giving the rider great feelings of confidence because of his excellent scope. He won the final of the Lake Arena 5 Year Old Tour, rode by Mario Maintz. He comes from an impressive line: his third dam also produced licensed stallion Lancelot Quainton by Lansing. Stem 18B1 counts among the best Holsteiner mare families with representatives including the licensed stallions Constant, Chin Champ, Quality and Quantum. 

Beauté de la Vie's second foal, Kasalla DKS (Cassini-Lansing-Cor de la Bryère), was sold at the 2017 FENCES Elite Auction, and Beauté de la Vie is currently in foal to Diamant de Semilly.