The KWPN has three new predicate stallions. Grand Slam VDL and Untouchable joined the hall of fame of the keur stallions while Carambole received the preferent predicate.  Twenty-year-old Carambole Keur said goodbye to the sport last year but appeared in the ring one last time at the KWPN Stallion Show with his rider Willem Greve. With 'Simply the best' by Tina Turner, Greve entered in Carambole's saddle.

Cassini I son Carambole, bred out of the mare Normandie VI (by Concerto II) was born in Holstein bred by Jens Ritters. Carambole was approved at the age of four with high marks in the performance test.  With Greve, the stallion was successful at the highest level in the sport for many years. Carambole has four KWPN approved sons, Fibonacci, Forsyth, Gerardus and Haynes GH as well as the recently approved stallion Cote D'Or Z and two approved grandsons Lingo van de Watermolen and Mees van de Watermolen.

Senior inspector
Henk Dirksen says in an explanation: "Carambole has meant a lot to the Dutch sport and has several approved sons and daughters in addition to international Grand Prix offspring. Therefore, Carambole deserves the Preferent predicate." Breeder and owner Gerard Korbeld unfortunately could not be present at the Brabanthallen. Jan Greve and Gradus Post, the men who discovered Carambole in autumn 2007, were present to receive congratulations from Ralph van Venrooij on behalf of Korbeld. In the lap of honour there was a standing ovation for the stallion.

Grand Slam VDL Keur
The thirteen-year-old Grand Slam VDL has been competing successfully in the sport for years with Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, who also presented the stallion in Den Bosch. Grand Slam VDL is a son of Cardento, bred by Frans Kenis out of the mare Wonder AS Prestatie (by Heartbreaker Preferent). As a foal, Grand Slam VDL was purchased by the Van de Lageweg family, who successfully presented him at the stallion selection as a three-year-old. In the same year, Grand Slam VDL was approved by the KWPN with high marks (90 points) and a 9.5 for reflexes and technique and several nines in his report. Grand Slam VDL has two KWPN-approved sons in Legend VDP and Paddington vd Marshoeve. Grand Slam VDL is eligible for the keur predicate, in the words of Henk Dirksen: 'Because Grands Slam has been performing successfully at the highest level in the sport for many years. In addition, his oldest, eight-year-old, offspring are doing very well in the sport. Hopefully we will see Grand Slam VDL in action with Marlon at the Olympics this summer."

Untouchable keur
The grey stallion Untouchable is 23 years old and is in perfect shape. Untouchable (by Hors la Loi out of Promesse Elite Prestatie Sport (spr) PROK by Heartbreaker Preferent) was bred by Willem van Hoof from Biest-Houtakker and was successful at the highest level in the sport with Daniel Deusser. In the sport, several offspring are successful at 1.60 Grand Prix level. Two sons of Untouchable are approved: Jagger SRK and No Jokes ACM, as well as grandson Heart Touch. Untouchable's influence is considerable: stallions United Touch S and Uricas van de Kattevennen are grandsons, for example. That Untouchable has a high percentage of offspring at the highest level in the sport.

AvdL for KWPN
Photo Carambole: Dirk Caremans