Some horses are blessed with a golden pedigree, while others prove themselves in the toughest courses in the world. Then there are rare exceptions that effortlessly combine both. Ilusionata van ’t Meulenhof is one such phenomenon. As a half-sister to icons like Emerald and Diamanthina van ’t Ruytershof, she possesses royal blood, but she also shined bright in her own right, capturing four podium finishes in 5* Grand Prix competitions.
With her proven track record in both sport and breeding, her upcoming foal by Dexter de Kerglenn is set to be one of the absolute crown jewels of the 160foals auction on June 30th.
Foundation Mare Carthina: An Unprecedented Breeding Success
Ilusionata van ’t Meulenhof (Lord Z x Carthago) was born out of one of the most successful Belgian broodmares of all time: Carthina. This extraordinary mare produced no fewer than six offspring that competed at the absolute highest 1.60m level.
An Unreal Average An incredible 38% of Carthina’s offspring aged ten and older compete at 1.60m level. In a breeding world where every Grand Prix reference counts, this is a statistic of otherworldly proportions.
The most famous performers from this exceptional damline include:
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Emerald van ’t Ruytershof: The legendary Olympic chestnut stallion who, under Harrie Smolders, finished second in the World Cup Final in Gothenburg (2016) and won the 5* Grand Prix classes of Bordeaux and Chantilly.
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Diamanthina van ’t Ruytershof: Shined at the highest level with Niels Bruynseels and Constant Van Paesschen, including a victory in the CSI3* GP of Lons-le-Saunier.
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Pepita van ’t Meulenhof BR: Finished a strong sixth in the demanding 5* Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi earlier this year under Daniel Deusser.
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Nixon van ’t Meulenhof & Fragile van ’t Meulenhof: Both successful at 1.60m level, with Nixon placing in the prestigious CSIO5* of Dublin in 2024.
Ilusionata Herself: A 67% Podium Rate
Ilusionata proved she inherited her dam’s elite genes in the showjumping ring with Niels Bruynseels. The mare combined unlimited scope with an unmatched winning mentality. She started in a total of six 5* Grand Prix classes and climbed onto the podium four times—a staggering success rate of 67%.
Her sporting highlights at a glance:
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2020: Third place in the Longines FEI World Cup qualifiers in both Basel and Bordeaux.
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2021: Third in the Nations Cup of CSIO5* Sopot and the Longines Global Champions Tour of London.
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Aachen: Selected for the Belgian team in the legendary Nations Cup of Aachen, where she recorded just a single rail down over two demanding rounds.
The Next Generation: From Daughter to Auction Highlight
Ilusionata's exceptional gene pool is already being successfully passed down to the next generations. Her daughter, L’Esmeralda van het Meulenhof (v. Nabab de Rêve), is following closely in her mother's footsteps and is already active and successful at the 1.60m level.
Furthermore, the influence of this damline extends far into elite sport:
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Le Blue Diamond van het Ruytershof (nephew): Won team bronze at the European Championship in Riesenbeck (2021) with Olivier Philippaerts.
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Luna van het Ruytershof (grandniece): Won the spectacular LGCT Grand Prix of Mexico City in 2024 with Nicola Philippaerts.
The Future Star on June 30th
For her latest offspring, the impressive stallion Dexter de Kerglenn was chosen. This French-bred stallion competed at 1.60m level under Jeanne Sadran and descends through his sire line from the legendary Diamant de Semilly—the exact same stallion responsible for the success of Emerald and Diamanthina.
With this carefully thought-out and rock-solid combination, the 160foals auction on June 30th brings a unique opportunity for both sport and breeding to the market.
