Three elite premiums were awarded on Saturday (2 August) at The Baileys Horse Feeds/ British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.
Filly foal, Jumbelissa (Jumbo x Monte Carlo) headed the scores for the day with an elite premium of 9.06 in the eventing section. Jumbelissa (pictured above) was bred and is owned by Nicky Carmichael, who had her dam Myth on loan from Belinda Thompson.
Nicky said: “We are so pleased with Jumbelissa, she was as bold as brass at Hartpury. I bred her for my daughter Zoe Carmichael to compete.” Nicky also bred and owns filly foal, Florissa (Floriscount X Wolkentanz I) who scored a higher first premium of 8.67. She added: “These are the first foals we have bred; it is very exciting.”
Filly foal, Hillgrounds Fravola (pictured right) (Franklyn Sugar x Sorento) bred by Clare 
Skinner scored an elite premium of 9.02 in the dressage section. Owned by Katie Bailey who rides for Carl Hester, Hillgrounds Fravola’s dam, Cilla Vola is half-sister to the KWPN champion Ampere. The Futurity evaluators said she had good self-carriage and balance with good use of joints in all gaits.
An endurance gelding, Sylvan Illusion (pictured left) (Sylvan Magician x Imad) went home with an elite premium of 9.01. This grey three-year-old gelding is owned and bred by AHS judge, Diana Whittome, founder of the Coed-y-Foel Stud in West Wales. Sylvan Illusion’s dam sire, Imad was a former HOYS winner. The evaluators said Sylvan Illusion had a good economic and flowing movement with a well-balanced frame.
Highest scoring yearling at Hartpury was also a potential endurance horse. AB Hugh Grant (AH Saluq x Dreamcatcher) attained a higher first premium of 8.89 for owner Zoe Atkinson. Bred by Elizabeth Horstman, Zoe said: “AB Hugh Grant has fabulous movement and he was very well behaved at the Futurity. I also think his super temperament helped him do so well.”
Top of the potential showjumpers at Hartpury was Flightline Casino Royale (Chaos x Rossini). This two-year-old gelding bred and owned by Lynne Clark scored a higher first premium of 8.81. Lynne said: “This is the first time we have been to the Futurity and I am delighted. We will go back next year when he is a three-year-old and hopefully get on to the equine bridge.” Flightline Casino Royale will be produced for showjumping by Samantha Rundle.
Other entries of note included Hester La Vista (Lord Leatherdale x Negro), whose dam is Weidyfleur II, full sister to Valegro. Owned and bred by Claire Hester, Hester La Vista was the highest scoring two-year-old of the day in the dressage section with a higher first premium of 8.51. Evaluators were especially impressed with her highly balanced canter and purposeful, powerful walk.
Claire Hester said: “The futurity is an ideal starting point as an outing for a young horse and the atmosphere is calm and relaxed. I was very keen to see how the horses were evaluated and we have so far found it to be a fair, good assessment. The evaluators are looking for the competitive potential of the youngster in their field and I believe the futurity is useful to our small but busy breeding operation”.
Former elite scoring dressage filly, Damn Fein (Danone x Feiner Stern) returned to the Futurity this year as a three-year-old. She took a higher first premium of 8.92 to be accepted to the equine bridge selection day for owner and breeder, Roisin Close.
Evaluators for the day were Bridget Parker, Kerensa Pluess Cobbledick, Sacha Shaw and futurity vet, Liam Kearns.
Visit www.britishbreeding.org for full details and results.
Photograps courtesy of Kevin Sparrow
