Lets return to our popular photo series where we will take a closer look at some of the sport’s top stallions, and if the offspring bear any resemblance to their sires. This time we look closer at Diamant de Semilly, who has sired an amazing amount of top showjumpers around the world – as well as having had huge success in the sport himself under Eric Levallois. Diamant de Semilly was born in 1991, and was by the legendary Le Tot de Semilly x Elf III. Photo by Dirk Caremans/www.caremans.be.
Another stallion by Diamant de Semilly that has succeeded both in the sport and breeding is Emerald. Ridden by Harrie Smolders, he has won Nations Cups, World Cups and Grand Prix classes all over the world - and already has some very nice offspring jumping on the youngster circuit. Emerald is now 11, and out of the mare Carthina Z by Carthago.
Harrie is also the rider on another successful Diamant de Semilly-stallion; Don VHP Z. The 11-year-old liver chestnut was 2nd in the CSI5* Grand Prix in Knokke, 3rd in the CSI5* Grand Prix in Valkenswaard and 2nd in the CSI5* LGCT Grand Prix in Vienna this year alone - to mention some. Don VHP Z is out of the mare Sara van het Parelshof by Voltaire.
He's also 11 and he's also a stallion: Utamaro D'Ecaussines has had an incredible two years on the British team - jumping clear after clear in the Nations Cups. Utamaro competed at the World Championships last year, and this year he helped the Brits qualify for the Olympics at the Europeans in Aachen. He was on two winning Nations Cup teams this year, and has numerous top results on Grand Prix level.
He was born Goldstern van het Keizershof, now his name is Sunshine. The 9-year-old gelding was previously ridden by Scott Brash, now Jos Verlooy has a hold of the reins - making him the third horse in this series by Diamant de Semilly competing for the EuroHorse-team. Sunshine is out of the mare O'Diamant by Hardi, and recently won the puissance in Washington - another great result on the record.
This 8-year-old has impressed everyone this summer. Heliodor Hybris won the CSI3* Grand Prix in Ommen as well as the CSI4* Grand Prix qualifier in Bourg-en-Bresse. Not only that, he was also on the winning British Nations Cup team in Gijon in August - with Laura Renwick in the saddle. Heliodor Hybris is out of the mare Carpe Diem Luka by Cannonball.
Emilie de Diamant A S was earlier on seen with Jan Vinckier in the saddle, now she competes for the US under Jack Towell. With Vinckier the 11-year-old mare was on the 2014 Belgian winning team in the Nations Cup in Sopot after jumping double clear, and now she jumps World Cups with Towell. Emilie de Diamant A S is out of a Flipper d'Elle-mother.