Danish Warmblood colt of the year Tophøjs Excellent by Extreme U.S. x Floriscount - photo credit: Ridehesten
Strong dam lines for the top foals
At last weekend Danish Warmblood Elite Show both the champion filly and champion colt stood out with power, expression and movements.
The champion filly Vitala by Vitalos / Dancier bred by Lena and Ulrik Kristensen is sixth generation, and will stay by the breeders in order to try to continue the development of their breeding program.
The champion colt Tophøjs Excellent by Extreme U.S. (Escamillo/Vivaldi) / Floriscount, is fourth generation at Stutteri Tophøj owned by Anette Nilausen & Niels Jørgen Johansen. He is out of the dam Feline (Floriscount/Landtinus) awarded with silvermedal. The entire breeding program from Tophøj now includes five broodmares decending from Koudalens Lantina, Elite Silvermedal mare by Solos Landtinus / Castro / Coriolan.
New buyer in the foal market
International top rider, team World Champion (Herning 2022) and Olympic team silver medalist (Paris 2024) Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen is new in the foal market. “For me it´s really exciting to step into the foal market with a top colt like Tophøjs Excellent. My future plan is to try and purchase one or two top-quality foals each year, to secure some exciting future prospects for the sport.
I´m lucky to have Vivi and Christian Vang Lauridsen (CVL Horses) as partners for this colt, and as they have top facilities for youngsters, and therefore Excellent will of course have his youth and his youngster time with their professional team. When I see a colt with qualities like Excellent, I can't help but dream of my next top horse. I have huge respect for the breeders as they are using years after years to refine their breeding program, and I hope to contribute to their hard work by providing top-level education for the horses,” Daniel adds.
Proud breeders
The breeders Anette Nilausen and Niels-Jørgen Johansen tells: “We are always happy to sell our foals to abitious riders, and of course we would love to be able to follow their development and education. We have just been at vacation in Crozet watching the European Championship, where “our” Rockson by Rockefeller / Sorento was representing team Switzerland with Jessica Neuhauser. This was kind of dream sitting at the grandstand cheering on Rockson and Jessica, and at the same time meeting him at the stable for a real mom cuddle,” tells Anette.
With dedicated breeders, strong dam lines and top riders investing in the future, the Danish Warmblood scene continues to raise the bar for quality and ambition in international dressage breeding.