DKS Welcomes Highlander DKS! (Baloubet de Rouet-Diamant de Semilly-Darco)
Dejan Krunic Sporthorses is excited to welcome Highlander DKS to the family! He was born April 4, 2017 under the care of the amazing Leslie Carter of Highland Farm in Little Rock, AR. Thank you so much Leslie! Highlander DKS is Baloubet de Rouet out of Top Girl (Diamant de Semilly-Darco-Jalisco B), which should produce a very powerful colt. This foal boasts a lineage that is solidly among the most sought-after pedigrees in showjumping. Top Girl Kervec is from a famous Selle Français breeding family. She has no fewer than five brothers who are approved stallions, with three of them being full brothers. Top Girl's full sister, Queen Girl Kervec, competed in the Nations Cup for France (including at Hickstead) and has produced several top offspring including Patrice Delaveau's up-and-coming Trafalgar Kervec and Vip du Forezan, the 2016 winner among 7-year-olds in the finals at Fontainebleau, France.
We can't wait to go visit this colt and see him in person. This colt is one of two such breedings we expect this year. This colt was produced thanks to embryo transfer, completed by Weatherford Equine in Weatherford, TX. Thanks to their expert work, we should be expecting a second Baloubet de Rouet foal out of Top Girl in less than one week!
DKS Welcomes Kasalla DKS! (Casall-Cassini I-Cor de la Bryère)
Dejan Krunic Sporthorses is excited to welcome Kasalla DKS to the family! She was born March 2, 2017 under the care of the amazing people at Haras de Semilly. Thank you so much Sophie and Richard! Kasalla DKS is Casall out of Beauté de la Vie (Cassini I-Cor de la Bryère), a breeding that we are incredibly excited to see develop due to the blood and reflex from Cor de la Bryère that we expect to see from this combination. Casall is a living legend whose feats and those of his offspring continue to be admired and discussed. This superstar with huge scope transmits amazing movements, strong backline and outstanding style. Casall produces athletic foals which are well-esteemed on the international market.
More to come as we get to know this special filly, and begin to get a sense of what amazing things she is going to accomplish!
DKS Welcomes Hollywood Girl DKS! (Baloubet de Rouet-Diamant de Semilly-Darco)
DKS is excited to announce the birth of our second Baloubet de Rouet out of Top Girl this year, Hollywood Girl DKS. This filly was born early in the morning on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Highland Farm in Little Rock, AR. Major thanks to Leslie Carter, who took excellent care of the mare and foal and who woke us up extra early with the good news! Hollywood Girl DKS is Baloubet de Rouet out of Top Girl (Diamant de Semilly-Darco-Jalisco B), which should produce a very powerful colt. This foal boasts a lineage that is solidly among the most sought-after pedigrees in showjumping. Top Girl Kervec is from a famous Selle Français breeding family. She has no fewer than five brothers who are approved stallions, with three of them being full brothers. Top Girl's full sister, Queen Girl Kervec, competed in the Nations Cup for France (including at Hickstead) and has produced several top offspring including Patrice Delaveau's up-and-coming Trafalgar Kervec and Vip du Forezan, the 2016 winner among 7-year-olds in the finals at Fontainebleau, France.
This was the second of two foals of this same pedigree that we expected this year, thanks to the folks at Weatherford Equine. Both were produced using embryo transfer, with the embryos carried by two of our other mares, Lyric and Belle Star DKS.
Mira DKS and Lilly Express DKS Complete the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, Spain!
Mira DKS and Lilly Express DKS celebrated the completion of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, Spain under the masterful guidance of Amy Graham and Emmanuel Bertho of Haras du Ry.
This is the second time at MET for Lilly Express DKS, who started there in the Autumn, marching around 5-year-old courses with ease and confidence. At the beginning of her 6-year-old season, she completed 1.30m courses, impressing everyone and demonstrating her bravery and willingness to do the job.
Mira DKS began her 5-year-old season, jumping 1.15m courses, and had an impressive five clean rounds out of seven total. Additionally, she placed 3rd and 6th in two of the Grand Prix classes for her division. She maintains her stellar record from her 4-year-old season, when she jumped four out of five courses clean.
These two special horses are headed back to Haras du Ry with Amy and Manu to continue their training. We're so incredibly proud of them, and thrilled with all the work Amy and Manu have done with them. Bravo!
Hacienda Van De Molendreef DKS Moves Up to 140!
Hacienda Van De Molendreef DKS has been having an exciting year. Only a year ago, she moved from 120/125 to 130, and this spring at the Venice Equestrian Tour, she jumped her first 140! It was an exciting run piloted by the incredibly talented Holly Shepherd of Accolade Farms in Grand Bay, Alabama. Hacienda Van De Molendreef DKS took her job seriously, and won the class! So seriously, in fact, that you can see her getting more and more excited and determined during the course. By the end, she flies over the final jump just to prove that she's got what it takes. The scope on this horse is incredible! Congratulations to both horse and rider on a great run.
Lilly Express DKS and Mira DKS begin their Spring Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, Spain with a splash!
Today, our lovely, brave mares Lilly Express DKS (Baloubet du Rouet - Cento) and Mira DKS (Mylord Carthago - Cento) began their 6-year-old and 5-year-old campaigns, respectively, at the sunny Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, Spain. Lilly had a nice error-free round over a 1.25 m course thanks to superb riding by Emmanuel Bertho, while Mira also had a clear round under the saddle of the amazing Amy Graham, both of Haras du Ry. Thank you Amy and Manu!
Here are some 2016 pictures of Lilly (bay) and Mira (gray).
Nina Simone DKS Sold at FENCES!
Dejan Krunic Sporthoses was honored to have Nina Simone DKS chosen to be featured in the FENCES auction among their three year-old jumpers at the incredibly prestigious auction in Fontainebleau, France on August 31, 2016. Nina Simone DKS was selected by FENCES for inclusion at the beginning of the summer, after producing very exciting results in their trials held in Normandy. She was prepared for this by Amy Graham of Haras du Ry, who ensured that she was ready, willing and able to do the job for Fences. Great job Amy, Manu and everyone at Haras du Ry!
Nina Simone DKS is a striking, scopey, and kind mare by the famous stallion Kannan out Centina (by Cento). This brave and athltic mare is destined for the big sport. She impressed during the Fences Auction selection and really dazzled during the Fences Elite Auction on August, 31, 2016, where she was one of the top sellers of her lot.
Kannan, himself an international jumper under the saddle of Michel Hecart, is one of the best stallions in the world. A former #1 on the WBFSH stallion rankings, Kannan has produced many top international jumpers, including the 2012 Olympic winner Nino des Buissonnets, the 2015 World Cup winner Albfuhren Paille, and the stunning Quabri de l'Ile. Cento, Nina Simone's dam sire, is himself a former Olympic and European Champion, and World Cup winner.
We REALLY like the cross of German blood with Kannan, so much so that we have already bred Centina's daghter Kumana (by Cumano) to Kannan twice, with great results.
Nina Simone was purchased by Claire Franzoni Eliot who rides and trains in France at the Ecuries de la Pointe. We wish them both the best, and can't wait to see what spectacular things they accomplish together!
DKS Welcomes King Quality Z!
On May 15, 2016, Dejan Krunic Sporthorses was excited to announce the arrival of King Quality Z, bred through our partnership with Koen Terryn of Quality Stud in Middelkerke, Belgium. Quality Stud has provided a fantastic pedigree for this very impressive young colt. He is a powerful young horse, and his energy is not at all surprising. This foal’s mother, Bella Vita v/d Molendreef, is from one of Belgium’s most famous mare lines. Her full sister, Via Volo v/d Molendreef, was 2011 Horse of the Year in the United States and competed in the Olympics with Beezie Madden. Another full brother of Bella Vita, Cliff-Hanger v/d Molendreef, is a 1.60 m international jumper in Ukraine. And yet another full brother of Bella Vita, Deep Purple v/d Molendreef, is an approved stallion and international jumper in Germany. Bella Vita has produced several good foals for her previous owner (including a mare Caretina Alia that is owned by Haras des Coudrettes and a 1.40 m jumper Ubama Alia), and has produced 3 outstanding foals for us so far, including a Kannan son Nic Nac Quality, who is an approved Zangersheide stallion and is owned by the famous stallion farm Van de Heffinck.) King Quality Z was sold at the Flanders Foal Auction to Bulgaria.
DKS Announces Birth, Sale of Game Boy DKS!
Dejan Krunic Sporthorses is thrilled to announce the birth of Game Boy DKS. He is a very exciting foal by Diamant de Semilly out of our Cumano-Cento mare, Kumana DKS. He was born on April 16, 2016 thanks to the expert work of François-Xavier Guyard.
By June he was already showing signs of being a great mover, which was not surprising in the least given his pedigree. Check out some of his moves below! Game Boy DKS was snatched up by Egbert Schep in the early summer, and we couldn't be more thrilled that this fantastic foal will be working with such a talented team.
DKS Welcomes Gilly Express DKS!
Dejan Krunic Sporthorses welcomed a new member of the herd today when Gilly Express DKS was born. Both Lilly Express DKS and foal are in good health. Gilly Express DKS, a Diamant de Semilly-Baloubet de Rouet-Cento filly, is one of our most exciting breeding projects. So far she seems very alert and active, and we hope to see fantastic things from her.
Belle Clara DKS Crowned Circuit Champion at Gulfport, MS!
On March 20, 2016, Belle Clara DKS, by Concorde out of Berkeley (Budweiser), completed another successful showing at the six-week Gulf Coast Winter Classics in Gulfport, MS. As in 2015, she was Open Jumper Circuit Champion! She is trained and ridden by Holly Shepherd of Accolade Farms in Grand Bay, AL.
Belle Clara DKS competed in eleven events at 1m30 and 1m40, coming in first in four events and among the top four competitors in all but one event. She is a quick, explosive ten-year-old with a drive to compete, and Holly Shepherd has done a fantastic job bringing out these traits and using them to win big.
Congratulations Holly! Congratulations Belle Clara DKS!
Watch them win big below!