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Breeder – Niko Detlef, Westfehmarn
Contender is proving to be one of the most
influential sons of
Calypso II – who was himself an important transmitter of the genetic
heritage of
Cor de la Bryère.
Calypso II was an advanced level showjumper with Michael Rüping, before
retiring to stud where he sired a number of good jumping horses, and also
several top line dressage competitors.
Contender is out of the
Ramiro daughter, Gofine who was in turn by the great Thoroughbred sire,
Ladykiller (Her line goes:
Ramiro x Ladykiller xx x Heidkrug x
Loretto-First-Mirza-Rudolf-Defregger-Justinus-Achill-Fritz).
Gofine produced several top showjumpers including the international
performer Ulina (by Chicago) who competed with Susanne Behring, as well as
Largo, Frechdachs and Florenza.
Bred to Caletto I. Gofine produced
Cornetto in 1989, who went on to be reserve champion of his stallion
approval. A daughter of Gofine produced the stallions, Cassandro I & II.
Cassandro I was a Danish Show champion, and as a gelding, was a successful
jumper with Jerry Smit. Gofine's daughter, M-Loreen (by Leander) when bred
to Caletto I, produced two international competitors: Fine Kiss (Michel
Robert) and Caliskan (Candice King).
Contender won the 1987 Adelheidsdorf
stallion performance test with a jumping index of 146.62. He went on to be
the 1-b main premium vice-champion in Oldenburg on the basis of his
excellent first crop of foals. He is now one of the most sought after
stallions in Germany today. He has produced 80 approved sons, and 59 state
premium mares including Riconda who won the Elite Mare Show at Rastede in
1993.As at 2006, in Holstein, Oldenburg, Hannover and Rhineland, Contender
has produced 782 registered mares, 498 successful offspring in the sport.
Contender spent his first three years
at stud in Oldenburg before moving to Holstein. An impressive number of his
first foals went on to international careers: Niko (Geoff Billington). Copa
d’Oro (Yves Houtackers) and Maria Callas (Ben Schröder) – there is also
Herbert Blöcker’s eventer, Chicoletto.
Contender sons include: Cantos (KWPN,
damsire, Goodtimes), Koriander (Moltke I), Canabis Z (Silvester), Chellano Z
(Cor
de la Bryère), and Oldenburg performance test champion, Contango
(exported to the USA), Continue, Caius, Clinton, Calvador, Camiros (1994
approval winner), Concerto I and II, Coleo and Concetto.
Contender has dominated German breeding
values for many years now and continues to produce exciting young stallions
like Contendro (premium stallion in the approval of 1999, and winner of the
performance test at Adelheidsdorf the following year). Marco Kutscher is
successfully riding three approved Contender sons in international sport:
Contreo, Conterno Grande and Montender (German Champion of 2003, bronze
medallist at the Athens Games and current European Champion 2005). Toni
Hassmann won the German Showjumping Derby with Collin, whilst Checkmate won
on the Rider's Tour with Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and was her ride at the
European Championships. The licensed Holsteiner, Controe (out of Amalva by
Aloube Z) has twice been runner up in major classes at CSIs in Stockholm and
Amsterdam. Another Contender, the 2004 world champion of sires, Con Spirito
R (dam, Galaune by Caletto I) is based in Switzerland at the Ruetimann Stud,
and has been successfully competed by Theo Muff - he too is proving a handy
sire.
Contender’s influence spreads
throughout Germany, with his two sons, Cordobes I & II acquired by the
Westfalien stud stud at Warendorf. Cordobes I was the winner of his
performance test in 1998 – scoring almost exactly the same jumping score as
his celebrated sire, 146.29!
Contender was ranked third in the list
of the world's best showjumping sires in 2004 and first in the list of the
world's best showjumping sires in 2005. |