GB24N30019 Blue Cheq cock "TAJ" bred by Ace Lofts Direct son MUFASA (son New Harry) x GEMMA C.&G.Koopman

GB24N30019 Blue Cheq cock "TAJ" bred by Ace Lofts Direct son MUFASA (son New Harry) x GEMMA bred by C.&G.Koopman

UK producers — a sire who bred the 1st NFC National Coutances winner and a dam who bred a 1st Blandford — with a 37,728-bird Blois winner behind himOut of two proven

Taj is a 2024 chequer cock bred from two parents who have already produced winners in UK racing. His sire, Mufasa, is the sire of the 1st NFC National Coutances winner from 3,246 birds; his dam, Gemma, is the dam of a 1st Blandford. Behind them sit the Hooymans "Harry" family, Vandenabeele's Bliksem line, and the C & G Koopman Cassius × Lady Promise pairing — and a grandmother who won 1st Blois against 37,728 birds.

The Sire — NL-17-1409875 "Mufasa"

Blue cock, bred by J. Hooymans · sire of a 1st NFC National winner

Mufasa's value is in what he has bred. His offspring include the 1st NFC National Coutances, 3,246 birds, together with 1st and 2nd Honiton, 2,408 birds, and 6th Blandford, 864 birds. A generation further on he is grandsire of 1st Section and 2nd National Guernsey (1,724 and 3,219 birds). That a Dutch-bred cock is producing at National level in the UK is the strongest single fact on this card.

The Dam — NL-21-1504844 "Gemma"

Chequer hen, bred by C & G Koopman · dam of 1st Blandford

Gemma is the dam of 1st Blandford, 359 birds, and 4th Blandford, 547 birds — so, like Mufasa, she has bred winners in the UK rather than only carrying famous names. She is a pure Koopman hen: a daughter of Vanir, a prize-winner from fields of up to 13,008 birds, and Jazmin, three times in the top 8 in the NPO.

Her sire's sire Dundee and her dam's sire Royal Dream are both children of Cassius × Lady Promise, so Gemma is concentrated on that Koopman pairing (see Breeding Character).