Capital Shampaigne is an established producer with three generations of 1.30m results around her. She has bred young horses, Capital Carline (currently 1.30m) and Capital Casilda (currently 1.00m); her dam, Capital Chardonnay, is the dam of Capital Chavon (1.35m) and Capital Kenzo (1.35m); and her granddam, Conquest de Marquis, produced Capital Casarey (1.30m). Consistency across a family is a better guide to what a mare will breed than a single standout result.

Her damsire, Capital Capriccio, was by Cor de la Bryère, the foundation sire who reshaped Holstein breeding and produced Corrado, Corland and Calypso II. Through his own damsire Capitol I, Capriccio carried blood capable of producing sporthorses and stallions alike, and his damline, 18b1, is among the best in the world. Capriccio was noted to be brave, careful and quick with tight front-leg technique. Capital Shiraz on top adds the sharpness and quality that this family channels well.

Capital Shampaigne is the only mare on the sale in foal to Capital Alabama. Alabama is a three-year-old by Aganix du Seigneur, who jumped to 1.60m with Jos Lansink before injury turned him to breeding, where he has become one of the most sought-after sires in Europe; his stamp is scope and a careful, rounded technique passed on with real consistency. Even greater strength runs through Alabama’s dam: Cha Cha Floreval is a daughter of Chacco-Blue, and she has already produced Capital Moonlight, a 1.55m jumper with Kelly O’Connor, as well as the stallions Capital Cornetblue Floreval Z and Capital Toulouse. Behind her sits the Holstein power of Berlin, a Cassini I son and World Equestrian Games team gold medallist, through the mare Pilaspa; a generation back, Pilonia produced Chamberlain at 1.55m and Marolot PS at 1.50m. It is early in Alabama’s own story, but his family tells us what he is bred to do. Over a mare whose family produces at 1.30m in three successive generations, this is an ambitious cross.