Stablemate Sunday: Deluxe Collector Club Stablemates 2020-2024

 The release of Darius in September got me thinking about the previous Deluxe Collector Club Stablemates. Last year was their fifth year of the Deluxe Collector Club, so I thought a little retrospective on the first five years of the Club would be nice! 

The Deluxe Collector Club began in 2020. There is no true difference between the base Collector Club and the Deluxe Collector Club besides the bonus Stablemate (and as of 2023, the bonus pin). The additional cost of the Deluxe Collector Club essentially pays for the bonus items in advance. The bonus Stablemate and pin ship anytime from the fall to the end of the year. 

Prince was the first Deluxe Collector's Club stablemate. He is a glossy palomino on the miniature Fighting Stallion mold. As 2020 was the 70th Anniversary of Breyer, Prince is a reflection of that. He is a miniature version of #33 King, the Fighting Stallion, one of the classic vintage Breyers. He came in a silk bag commemorating the 70th Anniversary.  

Chalice was the second Deluxe Collector Club Stablemate. Released in 2021, he sports the same paint job as the 2019 auction model on the traditional version of the mold. At the time, the 2019 auction model held the record for the highest amount an auction model had been sold for. Chalice is a lovely glossy buckskin sabino with ermine spots. His color is so wonderfully done for a Stablemate! 

Ellington is perhaps my favorite of the Deluxe Collector Club Stablemates. Unlike Prince and Chalice, Ellington is not a callback to a previous model. He is a glossy bay tobiano on the Standing Friesian (aka Django) mold. He has been a phenomenal show model for me, with several NAN cards under his belt.  

The 2023 Deluxe Club Stablemate was Fandango. He's a lovely dappled black sabino on the Twist mold. Fandango came in a silk bag with his name on it, and additionally came with an exclusive pin featuring Bolero, one of the Collector Club web specials for that year. Like Ellington, Fandango is not a miniature of any previous release, but both are on molds that debuted in the Stablemate Club, which I find interesting! 

Horatio was the 2024 Deluxe Club Stablemate. He showed a return to form for the club, being on a shrunken version of an existing traditional mold, much like Prince and Chalice. Horatio debuted the miniature Othello mold. He is a gray sabino in the pattern of Heath, who was a Collector Club web special that year. Heath is also featured on the 2024 Collector Club pin. I really enjoyed the concept of the deluxe Stablemate sporting the same pattern as the open to all web special.