21 minute read
CALLAHO AUCTION WINTER COLLECTION 2024
by hqmagazine
OUR REVIEW
HQ Magazine has, for many years, avidly followed the journey of Callaho Warmblood Stud through the sport. It is no secret that we relish the opportunity each year to dive into Callaho’s auction offerings and trace the journeys of their special horses through the sport. We love to study the breeding, look at the results of similar pedigrees in the sport, and, of course, find out where the horse has found his or her new home!
We have come to know that developments in Callaho’s breeding programme herald the beginning of a new level of quality in our sport. Every auction brings an influx of more modern, more specialised sporthorses onto the South African scene, and these cohorts of athletes, like clockwork, ascend the grades to join their siblings at the pinnacle of the sport. With 16 horses currently competing in the 1.50m Grand Prix classes, the proof is there for all to see.
Callaho commenced their breeding endeavours 25 years ago, and this year marks the Stud's 19th and 20th Auctions. When you see this Collection and look at each horse on offer, there is no question that Team Callaho has made every single one of those 25 years count. The quality inherent in each and every horse is a testament to the years Callaho has dedicated to this labour of love; the refinement of their breeding programme has reached new heights, and the evidence lies in the Winter Collection of 2024.
There isn’t a horse on this Auction that we wouldn’t want to own; every single one is proven in his or her own right. The maternal and full siblings are right there in the sport, flying the flag for these bloodlines and demonstrating that these combinations are destined for the top. It’s almost intangible, but it’s definitely there; there’s just a little bit more of the Callaho breeding magic in this group of 22 horses.
Team Callaho has left nothing to chance; Callaho Warmblood Stud’s Winter Collection is a masterpiece 25 years in the making.
If you were to ask anyone who has had an eye on recent showjumping results which stallion's offspring they would be looking to acquire, the resounding answer would be ‘Lissabon’. This son of Lordanos, out of a Sion x Contender mare, had great success abroad and then here in South Africa, competing and placing in a handful of World Cup Qualifiers himself before returning to his stallion duties at Callaho.
The first of Lissabon’s progeny to be sold on Auction was the flashy colt Callaho Lansink (Lissabon x Pilot x Paradox I). Lansink was quickly and expertly produced up the grades by Rainer Körber. The pair had a multitude of wins to their names in the 1.35m and 1.40m classes before the ride passed onto young rider Zandi Alcock, who has continued to experience huge success in the Open classes.
2014 saw nine of the 40 auction horses on offer sired by Callaho’s Lissabon. Of those, two have jumped 1.50m (Callaho Le Cadeau and Callaho Le Padre); Callaho Lumos jumped up to 1.40m; and two other progeny competed successfully in the Opens! The following four auction years saw an average of 40% of horses on auction sired by Lissabon, ten of which have competed successfully at the 1.50m level winning Grand Prix Qualifiers. These include:
Callaho Le Padre & Zdenek Muchna
Callaho Le Cadeau & Desiree Davidson
Callaho Lexington & Jeanne Körber
Callaho Liberia & Helen Criticos
Callaho Libra & Lisa Rahman
Callaho Luther & Tegan Bruyns
Callaho Lorenzo & Laurence Mowatt
Callaho Liantos & Tamara Rueda
Callaho Laios & Alexandra Ric Hansen
Callaho Luc du Ayenne & Carl Boonzaaier
Considering these horses are just reaching their prime, there will certainly be more to add to this list!
There are four Lissabon progeny on offer for this Auction: two broodmares (Callaho Let’s Dance (Lot 3), who is in foal to Victory Forever, and Callaho Lisa Mai, who is in foal to Benicio (Lot 16)). We might add that one shouldn’t write off broodmares as potential future sporthorses. Several Callaho’s sold as broodmares have gone on to compete successfully in the show ring, including Callaho Libra (Lissabon x Granulit), who was sold in foal to Victory Forever and now jumps in the 1.50m with Lisa Rahman. Her son currently competes in the 1.30m level and looks set to follow in his mother’s 1.50m footsteps!
The two Lissabon sporthorses on offer in this first collection of 2024 are Callaho L’Acord (Lot 4) and Callaho Lyon (Lot 22). Callaho L’Arcord’s dam Adele (Acord II x Wanderer) jumped up to the 1.40m with Govett Triggol. From the videos, Callaho L’Acord looks to be a pocketrocket, superstar showjumper in the making!
Callaho Lyon anchors the Collection, being the very last lot, and it’s just possible that Callaho is saving the very best for last. The combination of Lissabon and Welingan (Heartbreaker x C-Indoctro x Ramiro Z) has produced a variety of well-known, competitive jumpers, the most notable of whom are Callaho Le Cadeau (2009) and Callaho Liantos (2012). Callaho Le Cadeau is on his way back to top form, following some time out of the ring, and this 1.50m-winning pair surely have their sights set on the SA Derby, having been the runnersup in their first attempt in 2021. Callaho Liantos and Tamara Rueda jumped their first World Cup Qualifier together in Shongweni last year and managed to finish in the places. The pair have claimed a huge number of Championship titles since venturing into the Opens; the most recent of which was their win at Burlington Cup last year. They are a combination that always makes their competitors nervous, and there will be much more to come from them in the nottoo-distant future. With good size, great vetting and a proven pedigree, Lyon is undoubtedly a horse for the big time, and we can’t wait to see where this future champion will find his home.
CALLAHO’S CON CORIANO
Another foundational Callaho stallion who, in the past, has had many successful progeny on auction is Con Coriano. Callaho’s Con Coriano is a son of the legendary Contender, a stallion that has left a remarkable legacy with progeny that have competed at the highest levels of showjumping, dressage and eventing. Contender has produced nearly 200 licensed sons around the world and even more state premium mares. Con Coriano himself demonstrated Contender’s rideability, elasticity and powerful jump.
Unfortunately retired early in his 1.50m career, his legacy lives on through his progeny competing successfully in the 1.50 classes here in South Africa, including Callaho Consuri, Callaho Confidor, Callaho Con Quito (the first Con Coriano to sell on auction in 2013), Callaho Conzano and Callaho Conrado.
The June Auction has three Con Coriano progeny on offer: Callaho Con Touch (Lot 1), Callaho Con Quilla (Lot 5) and Callaho Con Calito (Lot 7).
Callaho Con Touch brings forth the ever-successful Contender x Balou du Rouet pairing. With such genetics, she is surely destined for greatness. Her dam Butterfly also produced the Lissabon gelding Callaho Let’s Fly, who jumped successfully in the 1.35m with Jethro Bower, and Callaho Lariboo, the gorgeous Callaho’s Larison mare who is being produced by Ashlee Taylor and at just eight years of age, is already jumping successfully in the 1.35m classes.
Callaho Con Quilla is a daughter of Quinta, which makes her a halfsister to Craig Rankin’s Callaho Catinka (Catoki), who is already winning in the 1.40m classes with Rainer Körber, and Franziska Laidler’s Callaho’s Sampras mare, Callaho Santa Monica who is currently jumping 1.20m and showing endless scope.
Callaho Con Calito has certainly drawn attention with his impressive front-end technique, quick reflexes and boundless scope. He is surely one for the big time. He also ticks all the genetic boxes as he is bred in the purple, with a dam (Stolzenberg x Escudo I) that has already produced three Open showjumpers since she began breeding in 2012! Top Junior riders, the Minty brothers, each have a sibling, with Hamza riding full brother Callaho Conray in the 1.40m, and currently holding the title of Junior President’s Cup winners, and Uthmaan riding his half-brother Callaho Lebanon (Lissabon), the gorgeous dark bay eight-year-old in the 1.35m. Rechelle Kloeck also had great success on another half-sister, Callaho Larike (Lissabon), winning a handful of 1.30m classes, including the 1.30m Derby when the mare was just seven years old before she sadly retired due to injury. With a jump that matches his pedigree, Callaho Con Calito should be on your ‘top picks’ list.
The unforgettable Callaho’s Sampras (Stakkato x Liberio H x Calypso II) was known affectionately as ‘Pete’ and had incredible success under the saddle of Lorette Knowles-Taylor, winning several 1.40m classes before his untimely passing at just eleven years of age.
Callaho Sequoia Vella, a winning 1.40m horse with Geordi Byrne, was one of the first Sampras progeny to be sold on auction, alongside Callaho Sigmund, who jumped in the Open classes with George Coutlis last year. Sampras also sired Callaho Sha Rukh Khan, who is one of the topranked 1.30m horses with Thomas van Rijckevorsel, as well as a handful of other 1.40-1.50m horses based in Europe.
On the upcoming auction, you will find Callaho Sequoia Vella’s full brother, Callaho Supa Vella (Lot 11), as well as the flashy broodmare, Callaho Solada (Lot 6), who is in foal to Innovation X.
Callaho Supa Vella. Team HQ has a weakness for big chestnuts with white faces and long white socks, but this gelding has much more than just the looks to his name. Callaho Supa Vella is destined for greatness, and his pedigree explains all thatyou see in front of you! His granddam is none other than Ravella, who was the mother of Jeanne Körber’s 1.50m jumper Fiorella and Callaho Luca Vella, who is jumping in the 1.50m with Tegan Bruyns. This dam line breeds champions, with Fiorella herself producing Callaho Lexington, the winner of the recent 1.50m Biogen’s Grand Prix at Maple Ridge with Jeanne Körber. ‘Supa’ by name really is ‘super’ by nature, and we will surely see this boy in the big classes in a few years’ time!
Callaho Solada is a 6-year-old mare out of Colada (Concerto x Polydor) who had three foals prior to producing Solada, two of which are already jumping in the Opens: Callaho Lucius (by Lissabon) and Callaho Commidor (by Con Coriano) with Kyla Brimacombe’s Callaho Foreign Affair (by For Joy) joining them soon! With impeccable bloodlines and in foal to a known producer of exceptional horses, Callaho Solada has a lot to offer!
Another stallion with two progeny on the Auction is Innovation X. Innovation was acquired as a result of Callaho's dedication to developing our sport for the future. The future of showjumping requires horses with more blood and sharpness, and this is what Thoroughbred blood brings to the table. Innovation is an incredibly modern 75% Thoroughbred by the Thoroughbred Holstein stallion Fragonard out of a Chepetto (Cento x Ramiro Z) mare, and what he has produced so far has left us wanting more…
His first progeny to sell on Auction was Callaho Imagine, a striking dark bay gelding out of a young Callaho’s Lissabon x Quidam de Revel mare. The hammer went down at an impressive R1,300,000.00, and this very sensitive and scopey gelding is now being carefully produced by the Healy’s. Innovation’s next son was sold on the 2023 Summer Auction. Callaho Iggy Pop is out of a Casparon x Argentinus mare, and is true to his description as a horse with immense power and potential. Iggy Pop has had his first few outings with owner Jodi Fernandez and has wowed everyone who has seen him in action. If these two are anything to go by, then Callaho Imperio (Lot 12) and Callaho I’m So Good (Lot 19) should be on your ‘want’ list.
Callaho Imperio’s dressage dam line has resulted in a horse with exceptional elastic paces. This young gelding’s free jump gives you the impression of what ‘floating’ over a jump actually feels like smooth, neat and effortless. Do yourself and favour and check him out.
Callaho I’m So Good is the first Innovation sporthorse mare to feature on Auction and is another exemplary specimen. She is by Pohland’s Watch Me P (Wachmann III x I’m So Bad xx), who won multiple World Cups with Lorette Knowles Taylor and is a full sister to Lisa William’s Derby winner Warrangal P, and James Lowe’s 1.45m jumper Wachmeister P. Watch Me P’s first foal, Callaho Con Catch Me (by Con Coriano) was the 2022 Winter Auction top seller at R800,000.00 and has already jumped 1.30m with Reine Marshall for Optima Sport Horses. We eagerly anticipate I’m So Good living up to her name!
Callaho’s Benicio was purchased in 2007 to kickstart Callaho’s dressage breeding programme, and while he has produced some exceptional dressage horses, his progeny seen on auction all look to have exceptional jumping technique as well. One of the 2015 Auction top sellers, Brigitte Bardot, jumped successfully in the Open classes, showcasing Benicio’s ability to breed jumpers. Benicio is not only a multiple Grand Prix winner but the sire of several PSG and GP horses and nearly 30 licensed stallions, of which seven are Premium status. He often passes on his striking looks but always passes on his jaw-dropping movement.
Callaho Bacardi. With her sire’s looks (liver chestnut with big white socks and face) and expressive movement, Callaho Bacardi (Lot 10) will be getting 9s and 10s for just trotting around the outside of the dressage arena! This mare has the potential to go all the way. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your hands on a future dressage Champion.
Callaho Benika. Lot 14 is the broodmare Callaho Benika, who is in foal to Callaho’s Larison. While Callaho Benika does not have Benicio’s colouring, she certainly has his movement, and one look at her walk and trot will leave you wanting. She is in foal for the fourth consecutive time to Callaho Larison, so evidently Callaho found the magic combination on the first try, and you are guaranteed something VERY special. This really is a two-for-one special!
Callaho’s Corinth was produced successfully up to the 1.50m classes by Carl Boonzaaier, and we are now starting to see a handful of his progeny moving up to the Open classes, including Callaho Corina (1.40m with Kimberly Williamson), Callaho Corleone (1.35m with Paige-Lee Goetsch), Callaho Coritano DSH (1.35m with Jessica Lupini) and Callaho Martini Cortina (1.30m with Claire Martin). He also produced the top seller of the 2020 Auction; Callaho Corrigan, who is being produced carefully by Martyn Swanepoel. On this Auction, you will find two Corinth progeny: Callaho Corazon (Lot 13) and Callaho Corbin (Lot 20).
Callaho Corazón. The saying “If they are good enough, they are big enough”, is exactly what comes to mind when we see Callaho Corazón. Earlier this year, Callaho’s Qui Cassa, who is also only 15.2hh, showed us the truth of this as she jumped clear with Junior rider Hamza Minty around their first 1.40m track. At first glance, Corazón looks like a cracking Junior horse, but let’s not limit her potential…
Callaho Corbin comes from a very exciting dam line. His dam Wanja (Quick DIXI) is by Quick Star, who was not only an incredibly successful jumper but also produced some of the best showjumpers, including 2014 WEG Individual and Team Champion Orient Express HDC as well as Olympic Team and Individual Gold medallist Big Star. Wanja so far is proving herself as a supreme broodmare, having produced three 1.40m horses, including Callaho Con Dior (by Con Coriano) and Callaho Cento’s Boy (by Cento).
Following a successful 1.60m career in Europe the striking Carthago Z x Landadel x Lord stallion Carnaval La Silla was acquired by Callaho. Sadly, Carnaval passed away earlier this year, but his legacy will live on through his progeny. His first two Callaho progeny went on Auction in 2020, and both Callaho Carlsberg and Callaho Carradine are already jumping in the Open classes. From the 2021 Auction Collection Callaho Carmelita and Paige Nunan, as well as Callaho Carrera with Greg Scott are in the 1.20m. From 2022, Callaho Carado and Isabella Saunders, Callaho Carmen and Divan Bosman, and Callaho Carisco and Ray Körber are all jumping in the 1.20m. It certainly seems like getting your hands on one of his progeny is a wise investment.
Callaho Carly Simon (Lot 15) is a full sister to the aforementioned Callaho Carmen, who is competing successfully with Divan Bosman and is truly a sure bet for the future. Her dam is Alzu Opportunity, who is by Optimum vd Wellington. Optimum vd Wellington sired several top jumpers after being imported to South Africa, including Alzu Oregon and Alzu Orissa, who came first and fourth, respectively, in the 2015 Derby, as well as Alzu Ovation and ZM Okinawa, who also competed at WCQ level. This mare has it all: scope, step and carefulness. She is undoubtedly going to make her future owner and rider very happy!
Callaho Carrie Calypso (Lot 17) is big, brave and has potential not only as a jumper, but also as aneventer and dressage horse. She is so beautifully put together that we wouldn’t rule her out as a showing prospect either. Her dam, Callaho Lorna Calypso (Lissabon x Calypso II) produced the 2019 Auction top seller Callaho Valdez (by Victory For Ever) who jumped in the Open classes with Nicola Kohne.
At Lot 2 we find the the only Equinox De Chalusse progeny on offer for this auction, Callaho Equidor. Equinox de Chalusse is a son of the extraordinary Numero Uno out of a renowned Vigo D’Arsouilles mare. Numero Uno was said to be honest, reliable and willing, and to have passed these traits on to his progeny, and evidently, they have continued down the line with Callaho’s training team describing Equidor as ‘brave, honest and easy’. But that’s just half the story with Callaho Equidor, as his dam is none other than Jeanne Körber’s 1.50m mare Picadilly Z. This mare has also sired the Callaho’s Con Coriano gelding Callaho Pica’s Boy K who recently won the 1.35m Championship at Revil Stables. Incredibly, this is yet another horse that ticks all the boxes!
FOR OUR LOCAL BREEDERS
For our local breeders, there are several chances on this Auction to get your hands on a proven broodmare:
Lot 9, Callaho Bolivia, is the eight-year-old daughter of Callaho’s Bolzano du Quinze, who has recently stepped up to the World Cup classes with Gareth Neill. Her half-brothers Schwaike Codi (Udokes) and Condor (Chin Chin) jumped successfully in the 1.35s, and her six-year-old half sister, Callaho Carsilla (by Carnaval La Silla) has recently been acquired by Kayla Gertenbach. Bolivia is in foal to Con Coriano, who passes on rideability, electricity and a stylish jump to his progeny; what more could you want?
Lot 18, Callaho Zidria is by Padinus (Heartbreaker x Calato) and is in foal to Con Coriano. Zidria has produced eleven progeny for Callaho, including two Lissabons: Callaho Le Padre (SJ 1.50m) and Callaho Le Padino (SJ1.40m), as well as two full brothers to the foal she is carrying, Callaho Confidor (SJ 1.50m) and Callaho Con Zidrio (SJ 1.30m). She is a sure bet.
Lot 21, Callaho Contendra is a daughter of Contendro I. Contendro I is a renowned producer of top dressage, showjumping and eventing horses, which is what earned his position on the World Breed Federation of Sport Horses Top 100 sires lists in all three disciplines for three consecutive years, and made him the number one sire of eventers from 2015 to 2019. In foal to Victory Forever, the sire of Leona van der Merwe’s World Cup showjumper Callaho Vidanté, and Ziska Nel’s 1.40m showjumper Callaho Victory Love, a future champion is just a few clicks away!
FINAL THOUGHTS
From Lot 1 to Lot 22, this Callaho Winter Collection is packed full of superstar sporthorses. With Callaho Warmblood Stud truly dominant at the very pinnacle of South African sport everyone with aspirations of equestrian excellence should have their eyes on this June Auction.
Thank you, as always, must go to Callaho Warmblood Stud, for the years of work that go into creating a Collection like this. Their foresight, attention to detail and relentless pursuit of perfection take our sport to a new level, time and time again.
We’re delighted to be partnering with Callaho for this Auction review and eagerly anticipate the impact this Collection will have on the future of South African equestrian sport.
