JK CATALYST – 2009 WAHO Trophy Winner – Belgium

JK CATALYST, Bay stallion, *1998 (PR Krystl Prince / Victoria II HPS)
Breeder: Family Oostervink. Owners: Mr. & Mrs. Juan & Ilse Murillo-Verbruggen

Belgium is very pleased to announce that their 2009 WAHO Trophy winner is the stallion, JK Catalyst.

His sire, PR Krystl Prince, now in Libya since 2005, is an American-bred Padrons Psyche son with numerous titles to his name, among them Reserve Junior Champion Stallion Lier, 1997, class winner Menton 1998, Top 5 at European and World Championships 1998, Reserve Senior Stallion Balen 1999, Champion Stallion Balen 2003. His spectacular movements made him the unbeaten international Liberty Champion, with victories in Kauberplatte DE 1999, Deurne NL 1999, Borgloon BE 2001 and 2002.

JK Catalyst’s Brazilian-bred dam, Victoria II HPS, (RSD Dark Victory / Hillah NA), stands for success, beauty and elegance, she is simply one of a kind and has achieved a spectacular international show record. To name some of her wins, in 1995 she became Junior Champion Filly in Lebach and Kauberplatte and that same year she was the Reserve World Champion filly in Paris. In 1996, she was the Senior Champion Mare in Aachen and 1998 brought her the title of Liberty Champion Mare in Deurne NL. One year later, 1999, she came to Paris and became World Champion Senior Mare. After all this, she went to the Middle East, where her successes continued. Last year, 2008, she was Senior Champion Mare at the Egyptian International show in El Zahraa. JK Catalyst is the only offspring of this exquisite mare in Europe.

And so, having established his pedigree, we can now talk about his own successes in the show ring. Amongst the various titles JK Catalyst has won over the years are: Junior Reserve Champion Stallion, Libramont 2000; Belgian Senior National Champion, Balen 2004; Senior Champion Stallion at the Arabian Masters in Bordeaux 2005, a year that also saw him as class winner in the Orientalica Show (Germany) and as Reserve Senior Stallion in Brecht. In 2006 he became Liberty Champion at the Elran Cup in Borgloon. It goes without saying that he is a first Premium stallion in the Belgian Stallion Licensing. In 2009, shown for the first time under saddle in the riding class in Libramont, he became Reserve National Champion. Whatever the results, wherever he has been shown, JK Catalyst has always been a particular favourite with the crowds.

Click to Enlarge
JK Catalyst’s co-owner Mr. Juan Murillo is presented with the WAHO Trophy by Mr. Winandus Bijnens from BAPS

Standing for 10 years at Murillo Training Center, JK Catalyst has produced many high quality and successful offspring, among them Catinia De Saile, MJ Catfire, Caresse, Kalinka Ghadan, AHC Eskardo, Ffayietta, Legolas, and many others. His winning offspring have not been restricted to Pure breds only – horses such as Cateras Pasha and Archangel Pasha show a fantastic show record. Both went this year to France, where they continued their success.

Aside from the showring, his offspring are also enjoying success in ridden disciplines as well. In 2007 Legolas was awarded the highest scores of the day during the dressage test in Brecht and in the same year he won Bronze twice at the DAP Championships and in 2009 he was National champion in the riding class in Libramont. Ffayietta is not only a class winner in the show ring, but she has also gone on to qualify for the CEI Endurance 100 kms distance after only 1 year in training. This brings her immediately to the top of the 6 year olds in Belgium for this demanding sport.

Together with his impressive and distinctive physique, JK Catalyst has a marvellous show attitude and likeable temperament, all of which is normally passed on to his foals. He is ridden at home without compromising his in-hand performances. Catalyst has a great character, he likes to play, show off and have fun, but he has a heart of gold. He loves taking little Maya Murillo on his back around the yard!

With this WAHO Trophy, BAPS acknowledges JK Catalyst as a Belgian-bred stallion of the highest quality who has produced quality offspring with amazing consistency, in both purebred Arabians and part breds, and we hope to see him and his progeny many times to come in the future. In short, JK Catalyst is a fantastic stallion, and above all a fantastic friend to so many of us.