Delta is a direct son of one of the most prolific sires of all time – Cavalier Royale, combining the best of Holstein blood with the Irish performance lines of Diamond Lad and Cornelscourt.
Delta’s pedigree is illustrious. His sire Cavalier Royale is a former world number one eventing sire, and his progeny include Olympic, WEG and European eventing medallists Call Again Cavalier (Olympic Bronze Medallist & European Silver), Ben Along Time (Olympic Team Silver Medallist & Rolex Kentucky CCI4*), Cashel Bay (CCI4* competitor) and Imperial Cavalier (WEG Team Gold Medallist, Olympic Team Silver Medallist). He has also sired numerous showjumpers competing at 1.60m level including Chippison (competed Olympics and WEG) and Two Mills Showtime (Leading Showjumper of the Year HOYS). Cavalier is one of the best known sons of the legendary Cor de la Bryere – who is also the sire of Calypso I – III, Calando I-IV, Caletto I – II,. Corrado, and the grandsire of Burggraff, Corofino, Clinton, Caretino, Calido, Contender and Carthago.
Delta’s dam is by Diamond Lad, an exceptional broodmare sire as well as the sire of Millstreet Derby winner Heather Blaze and a son of King of Diamonds. King of Diamonds was one of the most important stallions in the modern Irish Sport Horse studbook for his ability to pass on incredible jumping prowess. In the third generation is the Thoroughbred stallion Cornelscourt, also highly regarded in Ireland for the quality of his daughters, including Golda, who has competed at Nations Cup for Italy. The full sister to Delta’s granddam Moysella Beauty has produced some superb daughters, and is the great – granddam of both a CIC2* horse and 1.40m international horse.
Delta is incredibly athletic, powerful and bold with a superb scopey jump and excellent temperament, with which he stamps his progeny. He has competed to 1.30m level with a young female rider demonstrating his rideability, and retired sound to stud.
Breeding British website describes Delta as “a strong stamp of a stallion, with plenty of limb good short cannon bones, strong hocks and a good sloping shoulder. He is a useful dual purpose sire, combining the Holstein blood of Cavalier with traditional Irish Draught and Thoroughbred blood through the dam side”
Olympic Event rider Sharon Hunt chose Delta for her Hickstead main ring winning showjumper, HSB Harriet. Sharon said “We decided on using Shannondale Delta after seeing him ridden . He has a wonderful disposition and temperament which is so important. His canter is superb and his jump is careful with plenty of scope. He adds both height and quality which is exactly what we needed . He also has excellent feet , a must for any breeder! All these qualities combined with proven breeding lines - the infamous Cavalier Royale x Diamond Lad, it’s hard not to choose him! Sharon was so pleased with her first foal by Delta she used him again the following season.
