COBRA 18 (WEST)

2003. 172cms.

Standing at: Drumhowan Stud, Ballybay, Co Monaghan.

Tel: Drumhowan Stud 087 243 8959/Tony (0044) 7767 781001

Website: www.cobra18.com

Email: info@cobra18.com

INVESTING in a well-bred stallion and then standing him in Ireland is a brave move and that is exactly what successful businessman Tony Noble has done with his latest acquisition Cobra 18. Not only has Noble, who has a deep passion for showjumping and sport horse breeding, recently acquired Cobra 18, he will continue to stand him here for the coming season.

The Cornet Obolensky son will be based at Eamon and Gladys McArdle’s Drumhowan Stud and has already made his mark here through his first foal crop in 2016. Cobra 18 was bred at the world-famous Ligges Stud, which is located in the heart of the Münsterland horse capital and was founded by one of Germany’s most famous show jumpers, the Olympic gold medallist, Fritz Ligges.

Cobra 18 received an impressive overall jumping score of 8.81 when he underwent his 30-day stallion test with the ZfdP studbook in Germany. He was awarded Approved status with the Anglo European Studbook (AES) and is registered with Horse Sport Ireland, making his progeny eligible for green passports.

As a four-year-old, he covered just a limited number of mares before concentrating on his own show jumping career, until a career-ending injury in 2014 forced his retirement to stud. “During this time, he jumped to international 1.50m level, but what was the sport’s loss is the breeders gain,” explain his connections about their breeding motto.

Enviable pedigree aside, Cobra 18 has even more importantly started to deliver talented performers. From a small number of mares that he covered as a four-year-old, his most notable offspring is the well-named Dublin, who has again hit form in Florida this season. He made his 1.60m debut last year with Carly Anthony, who has produced the talented 10-year-old for Eric Lamaze, and the pair scored one of their notable results with third place in the Engel & Völkers Grand Prix last March at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Taking the $130,000 class was Cornet 39, yet another of Cornet Obolensky’s winning offspring.

Now under the ownership of the world’s current number two show jumping rider Kent Farrington, Dublin struck again recently when placing third in the Suncast 1.50m Classic at Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre, a result which served as a warm-up for their first big win.

That took place just last Saturday when Dublin and Farrington won the CSI5* $130,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final over Rio course designer Guilherme Jorge’s track, with Ireland’s Daniel Coyle in fifth place on Dillinger.

Another of Cobra 18’s progeny is Congstar, produced with great success in German young horse classes by Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking, while his first Irish-born crop include a colt sold at the Cavan Elite Foal Sale last year for €5,500. Cobra 18 has already been chosen for the breeding programmes of top international competitors and top breeders, including Jessica Mendoza, Harry Marshall and Diane Harron Eakin of Ringfort Sport Horses.

“Cobra 18 has everything I look for in a top-class sport horse stallion – impeccable breeding, proven ability to the highest level and offspring already proving to be of world-class standard. The combination of Coronet Obolensky and Ramiro Z is a showjumper’s dream and I also love the fact that he is 49% TB, so will also carry through the speed and stamina required to win at the highest level. I’m really looking forward to seeing my Cobra 18 foal this year!” said Mendoza, Team GB’s show jumping reserve at the Rio Olympics and who also lined out in the Wellington class won last weekend by Dublin.

Cobra 18 has all the genetic ingredients to produce modern day performance horses and showjumpers of the highest level. He is another example of the successful nick between sire Cornet Obolensky and Ramiro Z bloodlines, a cross also seen in Marcus Ehning’s World Cup campaigner Comme Il Faut, winner of the Madrid qualifier last autumn and Conte Bellini, produced by Swiss rider Clarissa Crotta and Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann.

His sire Cornet Obolensky has ranked in the top-three in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) show jumping sire rankings for the past three years. No less than six of the Rio Olympics qualified show jumpers were by the Clinton-Heartbreaker cross, emphasising his impact on current performers.

The importance of mare lines is continually made by leading breeders and Cobra 18’s pedigree is well balanced by his dam, Ranaschun. A daughter of Ramiro Z, a sire of countless Grand Prix jumpers including Ludger Beerbaum’s brilliant Ratina Z, Ranaschun is a full-sister to the licensed stallion Rodney who competed at Grand Prix and Nations Cup level with Fritz Ligges.

Ranaschun, from the Hannover Stamm 461 dam line, produced 11 foals, including five licensed stallions and sport horses that have won at S-level show jumping (Germany’s highest level of national competition, with fence heights up to 1.55m). Her offspring are also producing successful competition horses including Cornet’s Gold 2 and Miss Fritz, competing up to 1.55m level, and the four-star eventer Phoenix L.

Cobra 18’s grandam, Usch, was retained by Gestut Ligges as a foundation broodmare after her own performance career. By the thoroughbred Usurpator, this addition provides the essential backdrop of blood required for the modern sport horse and has added to Cobra 18’s 49% thoroughbred pedigree.

Brought to Ireland in 2015 by a private investment partnership and purchased earlier this year by Tony Noble, Cobra 18 has proven excellent fertility.

Fresh semen is available from Drumhowan Stud and frozen semen is available at several stations throughout the UK and Europe.

To discuss terms, conditions, and multiple mare discounts, contact Drumhowan Stud or Tony.