Sterrehof's Opium says farewell at Jumping Amsterdam

Sterrehof's Opium says goodbye to the international show jumping sport during Jumping Amsterdam 2015. The 19 year old Olympic top stallion of Marc Houtzager will make his last appearance after the Sterrehof’s Opium Grand Prix of Amsterdam (1.60m) on Sunday the 1st of February

Opium (from Polydor) was born in the German Ladbergen with the Haarlammert family in 1996. As a foal he was bought by the Jonkers family. Opium was trained to 1.45m level at the stable of rider Ulrich Kirchhoff in Germany. In 2005 Opium was bought for 50 percent by Ivo and Ellen Campagne from Stud Sterrehof. Two years before the Olympic Games of Hong Kong in 2008 he was bought fully by Stud Sterrehof.

Sterrehof’s Opium has always had a great attitude. He fought with Marc to jumping over the highest of fences. At the Olympic Games of 2008 in Hong Kong, the duo jumped to a 7th place individually. Before that he also made great successes like winning the Grand Prix of München-Riem, Donaueschingen and Den Bosch. A staggering 8 times in a row Sterrehof’s Opium took part in Aachen and won many prizes at CHIO Rotterdam. There, in 2014, he placed fifth in the Grand Prix. In Nörten-Hardenberg Opium still placed second in the 1.55mm and in the fall Marc and Opium placed fifth in the Grand Prix of Saint-Lo.

Now, his sports carreer has come to an end and a new chapter as stud will begin for him. From 2015 Sterrehof’s Opium will be fully devoded to the stud, from then on there will also be fresh sperm available. The 19 year old Olympic top stallion will make his last appearance after the Sterrehof’s Opium Grand Prix of Amsterdam (1.60m) on Sunday the 1st of February.