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Olympic VDL Cartello

Cartani - Lord - Sacramento Song xx

2007 16.2h Holsteiner

"Since the first time I rode him, I could tell he was a special horse. His rideability is great, he is smart, always looking for the next fence. He is really scopey and careful and always tries his best to get to the other side of the fences. He is energetic and always paying attention to what is around him. He has a great attitude and is definitely a fighter. I am really looking forward to seeing his offspring in the ring in the near future." - Darragh Kenny, rider

VDL Cartello is a modern and athletic stallion with an incredible sports career, stellar pedigree, and a winning attitude. Ridden by James Billington (GBR) early in his career, VDL Cartello won the Grand Prix of CSI Wierden at just 8 years old and continued competing with Billington from CSI2* to CSI5* level. They had top placings in the Grand Prix of Asten, Grand Prix of Jumping De Driehoek in Ommen, and won Bronze at the Sires of the World in Lanaken in 2015. From 2018 to 2020, Cormac Hanley rode VDL Cartello to numerous top placings at elite venues such as Dublin, Wellington, Saugerties, and Bromont including jumping double clear to seal second place for the Irish team in the CSIO5* Nation’s Cup in Vancouver. .

 

2021 was the beginning of VDL Cartello and Darragh Kenny's partnership and they quickly rose and stayed at the top of the sport. Together they competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games for Team Ireland where they won the Jumping Individual Qualifier and then returned to the Olympic stage in 2024 at the Paris Olympic Games as the alternate for Team Ireland. Kenny and Cartello had many Top 10 finishes at the 5* level including 4th in the Rolex Grand Slam Grand Prix in Geneva, 2nd in the Barcelona and Dublin Nations Cups, 2nd in the GCL Play Off in Prague, and 1st in the MLSJ Grand Prix in Monterrey La Silla. 

 

VDL Cartello's sire, Cartani, is by Olympic Carthago and out of Olympic Taggi(Landgraf I). Carthago's success in the competition ring and breeding shed is known worldwide and legendary Taggi made regular appearances in the Aachen GP, competed in the 1992 Olympics, and won Team Gold and Individual Silver at 1994 World Equestrian Games with Sören Von Rönne (GER). Cartani competed at the 5* level including the 2013 EU Championships with Charlotte von Rönne. Cartani passes on power and scope to his offspring, both of which VDL Cartello exemplifies. 

VDL Cartello's dam B-Estelle(Lord), is also the dam of Olympic Cardento and 1.60m Conquest. B-Estelle is granddam to the 1.60m stallion Quintender and is the great-granddam to Marco Kutscher’s extremely talented Quadros. B-Estelle originates from renowned Holstein line 741.

VDL Cartello retired to stud in 2024 with over €1.6 million in prize money earned, 20 double clear rounds at 1.50m level and above, 26 World Cup appearances, and 64 starts at the 5* level. He has a small group of offspring on the ground in the EU and US and they are elegant, elastic, supple, scopey, and athletic models. Cartello jumped every course with room to spare and his super technique and rideability were always on display as well as his willingness and heart. 

Notable Results:

2024 

1st - CSI5* MLSJ - Class 142: GP - Monterrey La Silla (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

2nd - CSIO5* - Class 824: GP - Calgary, Spruce Meadows (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

2nd - CSIO5* - Class 8: NC - Dublin (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

4th - CSI5* - Class 514: GP - Wellington (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

6th - CSI5* - Class 514: GP - Wellington (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

2023

6th - 2023 CSI4*-W - Class 28: GP - Fort Worth (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

2022

2nd - CSI5* - GCT/GCL - Class 10: GP - Madrid (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

2021

1st - Tokyo - Individual Qualifier - Olympic Games (1.65m) with Darragh Kenny
2nd - CSI5* GCL Play off - Class 13 - Prague (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

2nd - CSIO5*-NC Final - Class 6: NC - Barcelona (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

2nd - CSI5* - GCT/GCL - Class 9 - Madrid (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

3rd - CSI5* - GCT/GCL - Class 10: GP - Madrid (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

4th - CSI5* - Class 20: GP - Geneva (1.60m) with Darragh Kenny

4th - CSI5* GCL Play off - Class 10: GP - Prague (1.65m) with Darragh Kenny

5th - CSIO5*-NC EUD1 - Class C8: NC - La Baule 1.60m) with Darragh Kenny 

5th - CSI5* - Class 514: GP - Wellington (1.60m) with Lorcan Gallagher
 

2019
8th CSI4*-W - Class 104: WC - Wellington, Deeridge Farm
(1.65m) with Cormac Hanley
2nd - CSIO5*-NC NAm - Class 554: NC - Vancouver-Langley (1.60m) with Cormac Hanley

4th - CSIO5*-NC - Class 209: NC - Wellington, Deeridge Farm with Cormac Hanley
 
2018
3rd - CSI4* - Class 852: GP - Upperville (1.60m) with Cormac Hanley
 

 

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