By Christopher Hector
Photography: FEI/Liz Gregg

I know that I am not the only breeding commentator to venture the opinion that Sandro Hit (Sandro Song x Ramino) might produce very attractive young horse competitors, but he would NEVER breed Grand Prix dressage: Too much Holstein, too out behind, too tricky in the mind, too dodgy in the walk....

But now I am happy to admit the error of my ways, as the black stallion emerges on the latest WBFSH sires rankings as the world number one, and he is joined in the top 10 by a son, Sir Donnerhall I (Donnerhall) and a grandson, Spielberg (Sunny-Boy x Rosier).
Once dressage breeding was billed as a battle of the big three: Donnerhall, Rubinstein and Weltmeyer. Donnerhall is still a force (damsire of Sir Donnerhall, amongst others) with his leading representative, Desperados (De Niro x Wolkenstein II) in 10th, joined by Dimaggio (Don Primero x World Cup I) 14th, Don Frederico FRH (Donnerhall x Consul) 16th, Diamond Hit (Don Schufro x Ramino) 24th, De Niro (Donnerhall x Akzent II) 25th, and Don Schufro (Donnerhall x Pik Bube I) in 26th.
The Rubinstein star is fading rapidly, his only representative, a grandson, Romanov (Rohdiamant x Grundstein II) in 30th, while the glitter of the W line has disappeared entirely...
The F line of Furioso II, largely through his grandson, Florestan, was never quite so fêted, but continues to produce sires. Aside from Hanoverian of the Year, Fidertanz, there is Florencio I (Florestan x Weltmeyer) in 19th, Fürstenball (Fürst Heinrich x Donnerhall) 56th, then four each with only one representative, Falsterbo (Fidermark x Brentano II) in 62nd, Fassbinder (Fürst Heinrich x Caprimond) 66th, Fidermark (Florestan x Werther) 74th, and the grand old man himself, Florestan (Fidelio x Rheingold) just hanging in at number 89... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BREEDING NEWS
SUBSCRIBERS CAN READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY LOGGING IN AND RETURNING TO THIS PAGE