Dragonfly Ducaet
A meeting of exceptional jumping blood
Dragonfly Ducaet is a mare in which two remarkable performance bloodlines come together in striking fashion.
She is a daughter of Kahlúa Ducaet — herself a daughter of the legendary jumping stallion Arko III — and of Kastell An Taro DK, a son of the Olympic stallion Mylord Carthago out of a distinctly Holstein dam line tracing to Cassini I.
Her pedigree thus brings together some of the most influential names in modern European show jumping and breeding — a combination in which proven performance, exceptional jumping quality and valuable genetic heritage reinforce one another.
The dam line: Kahlúa Ducaet
Kahlúa Ducaet is a daughter of Arko III and Génépi Ducaet, herself out of Parco x Lys de Darmen. Kahlúa Ducaet enjoyed international success in her own right under the Swedish rider Sanna Olsson.
Kahlua Ducaet (Arko III x Parco)
Through her dam, Kahlúa Ducaet carries the blood of Parco, one of the most successful international show jumpers of his generation, himself a son of Darco, the legendary Belgian stallion who dominated the top of world show jumping for years and rose to number one in the WBFSH rankings.Parco’s dam traces directly back to Almé Z, one of the most influential sires in the history of European sport-horse breeding, whose mark on both international show jumping and modern breeding remains indelible, standing at the root of countless champions and leading bloodlines.
Lys de Darmen, Kahlúa Ducaet’s maternal grandsire, also belongs among the true foundations of the Belgian Warmblood. His bloodline ranks among the most valuable and influential in the history of the BWP, a significance recognised through the title of BWP Ambassador, placing him among the greatest names in the studbook’s history.
Arko III — a phenomenon of international show jumping
On the sire’s side, Dragonfly Ducaet carries the blood of Arko III, a son of the world-famous stallion Argentinus. Arko III also descends from the same influential dam line as Darco, meaning that several branches of one exceptionally successful genetic family come together within this pedigree.
For three consecutive years, Arko III was the highest-earning show jumper in the world, his record standing among the most impressive in international sport.
In 2004, he carried the colours of Great Britain at the Athens Olympics. Two years later he won the Dubai Classic and finished second in the Grand Prix of Dubai. He was victorious in both the CSIO Grand Prix of Rome and the CSIO Grand Prix of Lucerne, adding a win in the prestigious Grand Prix of Calgary, Canada.
His achievements were such that the FEI named his owners Winning Owners in two consecutive years.
Yet Arko III’s significance extends well beyond his own record. As a sire, he is known for the exceptional jumping technique he passes on to his offspring: explosiveness, scope, intelligence and a distinctive quality over the fence are among the hallmarks of his progeny.
In Dragonfly Ducaet, this Arko III blood comes together with the lines of Darco, Parco, Almé Z and Lys de Darmen — a pedigree in which the legacy of several generations of proven sporting and breeding success converges.
Kastell An Taro DK — French performance meets Holstein tradition
On Dragonfly Ducaet’s sire’s side stands Kastell An Taro DK, a Selle Français stallion who, following his approval as a breeding stallion in Saint-Lô in 2023, was described as “très prometteur” — highly promising.
His pedigree forms an elegant bridge between the finest French performance blood and classic Holstein jumping genetics.
His sire is Mylord Carthago, himself an Olympic stallion and one of the leading show jumpers of his generation. Mylord Carthago was not only a performer at the very top of five-star sport but, above all, a winner — claiming victories in the 5* Grands Prix of Helsinki, Vienna and Paris, and in the 5* Nations Cups of Aachen, Rome and Gijón.
His outstanding competition career was followed by a no less significant career at stud. Mylord Carthago passes on to his offspring not only his exceptional jumping ability but also the mental qualities and competitive mindset needed to perform at the highest level — a legacy reflected in his strong position in international breeding, where he holds fourth place in the WBFSH Sire Ranking, thanks in part to successful offspring such as Tino La Chapelle, Bingo du Parc, Argan de Beliard and Valmy de la Lande.
Cassandra d’Ick — an exceptional Holstein dam line
She produced, among others, Unik d’Ick, who was approved as a breeding stallion and competed at 5* level under Mathieu Billot, Nicky Galligan and Hanna Mauritzson, and Cassandre d’Ick, campaigned successfully by Loïs Delbart.
Through her dam, No Time, Cassandra d’Ick is also a half-sister to the international show jumpers Cache VA, active at 5* level with, among others, Nadja Peter Steiner and Olivier Robert, and Catharina VA, who competed at 4* level with Serena Curcio.
Cassandra d’Ick is deeply rooted in classic Holstein breeding, her pedigree bringing together such names as Cassini I, Contender, Lord, Landgraf and Caletto II — stallions who each, in their own way, left their mark on international show jumping and European sport-horse breeding.
She belongs to Holstein family 2860, one of the celebrated dam lines that has, throughout its history, produced numerous sport horses and sires, among them Marconi and Firth of Clyde.
A pedigree with clear ambition
Dragonfly Ducaet thus unites, in a single pedigree, an impressive concentration of proven jumping genetics.
From Arko III, Argentinus, Darco, Parco, Almé Z and Lys de Darmen on the dam’s side, to Mylord Carthago, Cassini I, Contender, Landgraf and Caletto II on the sire’s: Dragonfly Ducaet is bred from bloodlines that have proven their worth for generations, both in international sport and in breeding.
What makes this pedigree especially compelling is the combination of Belgian, French and Holstein performance genetics — a blend that brings together not only scope and technique, but also carefulness, intelligence, temperament and the will to perform.
Dragonfly Ducaet is thus more than the sum of celebrated names. She is the result of a deliberate coming-together of proven genetic quality — a mare whose pedigree carries the history of international show jumping within it, while looking firmly toward the future.
The name Dragonfly
At Ducaet, the name Dragonfly is inseparably bound up with the legendary Fawlty Towers episode in which Basil, Sybil, Manuel, Polly and the rest of the household throw themselves — with typically British earnestness, and even more typical confusion — into a wager on a horse named Dragonfly.
Since then, the name has carried a double meaning at Ducaet: a nod to one of the most hilariously chaotic British comedies of all time, and a name that also stands for character, temperament and a touch of delightful eccentricity.
Dragonfly Ducaet, serious breeding, questionable betting.
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