WOMANIZER became the latest five-star rated stallion this week. The Heartbreaker son was upgraded by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) because of his eventing progeny performance and is another five-star stallion to stand at Kylemore Stud.
Six years ago, his KWPN stable companion Tyson was approved as a five-star stallion at the HSI inspections in Cavan.
Foaled in 2003, Womanizer was bred by Hendrika Florjyn and as a three-year-old was spotted by Paul Hendrix at the first round of the KWPN stallion inspections.
“Paul bought him because he loved him. He said he was a jumper from one of the best motherlines. He knew we had been looking for a stallion, so he told us about him and we went over to see him. We ended up buying two after that famous night in the restaurant.” said Kylemore Stud’s Olive Broderick.
The restaurant, originally Voltaire’s stable, is beside Jan Greve’s yard and the Brodericks also bought the future 2008 Croker Cup champion Watermill Swatch, bred by Greve, the same night.
“Ivor rang the bank manager at 10pm that night. It was around 2006 and, at that time, they were throwing out money. Ivor mentioned the price of Womanizer, and said we saw one more [Watermill Swatch] we loved and, of course, he said, ‘Go ahead, buy both’.”
The couple returned to the Netherlands to see Womanizer’s Burggraaf dam Perina and his second dam Erina (Armstrong).
“I was so impressed with their type, they had so much quality. It’s a very solid motherline and they [performers] still come from it all the time. When we saw them in 2006, Womanizer’s dam had a Quidam de Revel colt and he [Paul Crago’s Another Time] jumped 1.60m.”
More 1.60m relatives from the family include Larino (Peter Geerink competed him and Womanizer’s sire Heartbreaker), Romolus 16 and Gruppo Prom Tonali.
Womanizer was originally produced in young horse classes here by Sheila White, Olive Clarke and then, as a seven-year-old by Conor Swail, jumped at 1.30m Grand Prix level. His final outing in 2010 was a win in the Cavan indoor championships, where the field included the calibre of Pacino, Ballypatrick Mystique and Wilywonty. Unfortunately, an injury ended his career and Womanizer retired to stud full-time. Just this week, he returned ‘happy and woolly!’ from his winter outdoors.
Something else
Olive continued: “It’s really something else to see Womanizer achieve five-star status through his progeny. Due to an injury at seven, Womanizer didn’t get to show us what he was capable of himself. And no doubt it affected his book of covers. However, breeding wins through and, due to the many breeders who had faith in him, he has been awarded that status.
“Many thanks to all the breeders who supported him and I know there are some really special youngsters still coming through. Marily Power, you knew it at the beginning!” read the post on the Kylemore Stud Facebook page.
“Marily liked him from the start and, as she said, he did it the hard way by proving himself through his progeny.”
to achieve five-star status for eventing progeny performance in the ISH Studbook, a stallion must have two or more progeny that earn Minimum Eligibility Requirements at CCI4*-L or CCI5*-L level.
The first of Womanizer’s eligible progeny is the locally-bred Cooley Quicksilver, bred by Alan O’Brien and out of Kylemore Crystal (TIH) by the Irish Draught stallion Creggan Diamond. Now a 13-year-old, he and Liz Halliday-Sharp (USA) have successfully completed Luhmühlen and Pau five-star events.
The second is CHF Cooliser, second with Tom McEwen (GBR) at Pau CCI5*-L in 2021, the 14-year-old mare is out of Super Spring (Ramiro B) and was bred by Raymond Carroll. Another bright prospect is Marcio Carvalho Jorge’s (BRA) 2023 Pan-Am Games individual silver medallist Castle Howard Casanova, bred by Susan Fitzpatrick.
“And there’ll be more, both eventers and show jumpers. It takes time for a stallion to prove himself through his progeny. They’re in zimmer frames before it happens really,” Olive added.