The CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix takes place at CHI de Genève in Switzerland today, Sunday 14th December.
A total of 40 combinations contest the class, and having studied their pedigrees, here are my breeding insights.
THE OVERVIEW
The 40 horses entered comprised of 20 geldings, 13 mares and 7 stallions.
12 studbooks were represented. With 9 horses entered, Selle Francais was the most represented studbook.
The average horse age is 12-years-old. The youngest horses are 9, and the oldest are 16.
STANDOUT SIRES
32 stallions have at least one offspring entered for the 2025 Geneva Grand Prix.
With 4 offspring competing , Diamant de Semilly is the most represented sire, as well as being the oldest.
Toulon has 3 offspring lining out, while Cornet Obolensky, Kannan and Vigo d’Arsouilles each have 2.
Clyde LBV Z & Kassander van’t Roosakker, born in 2010, are the youngest stallions with offspring competing.
DAMS & DAM SIRES
No single breeder or mare is represented by more than one entry in this year’s Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva.
Born in 2012, the youngest dams to feature are My Lady Belle van 't Roosakker (dam of Picobello van’t Roosakker), Sea Coast Monalisa van't Paradijs (dam of Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs) and Zinka de Kalvarie Z (dam of Dourkhan Hero Z).
With their respective offspring born in 2015, it means that these three mares were covered as 2-year-olds.
Dam Sires
Contender, Cornet Obolensky, Heartbreaker & Toulon are the most represented damsires in this year’s entries, each appearing twice.
BIG TALK FOR BREEDERS
Looking to learn more about the insights & experiences of internationally successful sport horse breeders?
Then check out my podcast series, Big Talk For Breeders.
The series includes interviews with a number of breeders represented by home-bred horses in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva 2025:
Episode 1 - Luc Henry (breeder of Dourkhan Hero Z)
Episode 16 - Ilse Bosch (breeder of Incredible)
Episode 22 - Patrick & Shane Connolly (breeders of James Kann Cruz)
Episode 39 - Werner Dierckx (breeder of Tabasco de Toxandria Z)
