PAU CCI5*-L - the seventh of such elite fixtures in the eventing calendar - wrapped up this year’s five-star action. So which horses and studbooks were the 2025 champions?

Starting on the home front, no wins this year for Irish Sport Horses, unlike in 2024 when Greenacres Special Cavalier (Cavalier Royale - Greenacres Touch, by Touchdown. Breeder: Michael Callery) and the mighty old warrior Ballaghmor Class (Courage II - Kilderry Place. Breeder: Noel Hickey) won at Badminton and Maryland respectively, with Caroline Powell (NZL) and Oliver Townend (GBR).

Cooley Rosalent, another of Townend’s five-star string, and just last weekend Plot Twist B came closest to an ISH win, notching up runner-up places at Badminton and Pau.

Overall, there were 10 other top-10 places by Irish Sport Horses at five-star level this year and two of those results were recorded by the Co Waterford-bred Cavalier Crystal (Badminton, Burghley) always consistent at this level. Highly Suspicious, fourth at Luhmühlen, came close to matching her double after finishing 11th at Pau, just 0.5 away from 10th place.

Veteran

Age-wise, the ISH top-10 team ranged from the 18-year-old veteran Sunday Times to a trio of 10-year-olds: HSH Blake (another Galway-bred in the Maryland top 10), Plot Twist B and Dirty Old Town.

Sunday Times, bred by Paddy Joyce, is one of two Traditional Irish Horses (TIH) amongst this year’s dozen top-10 Irish Sport Horses and is one of a trio of thoroughbred-sired top-10 five-star horses in 2025.

Chance Encounter, the second TIH, was an unfortunate recent loss to his team, including his rider Robbie Kearns. He was the sole Irishman to record a top-10 finish with an Irish Sport Horse at five-star level this year.

Austin O’Connor’s stellar year of results (third in Badminton and second in Burghley) were courtesy of Colorado Blue, bred in Co Limerick by Kate Jarvey but another to contribute to Sport Horse Breeding GB’s strong showing in 2025.

How do the ISH results of 2025 compare to recent years? We’ll take 2022 as an example, when Vanir Kamira won Burghley and 17 top-10 results were recorded then by Irish Sport Horses. A dozen top-10 results (Cavalier Crystal notched up two of the 12) was still sufficient this year for the ISH studbook to head off the Holsteiner Verband (nine).

Robbie Kearns with the late Chance Encounter during the cross country at CCI5* Longines Luhmuhlen Horse Trials where they finished 10th \ Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

Numbers game

Lordships Graffalo was the undoubted king of the 2025 five-stars. His rare Badminton-Burghley double - and in the same year - is also a major boost to the Sport Horse Breeding (GB) studbook and his Trakehner sire Grafenstolz.

The Netherlands’ KWPN studbook was the other with two winners at CSI5*-L level this year - Izilot DHI at Luhmühlen in June and then Jarillo at Pau last weekend.

Two more continental studbooks - the Hanoverian and Holsteiner Verbands - also had a winner apiece and then there’s the thoroughbred, a breed that enjoyed its best year at five-star level.

From the veteran Willingapark Clifford’s fourth Adelaide win, ahead of fellow thoroughbred The Bandit, to another globetrotter in Artist, with his two top-10 finishes and a near-win at Maryland, it was quite a five-star season for the breed.

Adelaide, the only CSI5*-L in the southern hemisphere, can tend to be an outlier as its results are mainly Australian and New Zealand riders and the horses are usually a mixture of Australian Warmblood, Kiwi and thoroughbred bloodlines.

Traditionally, it tends to attract the smallest entries, although Maryland Five-Star at Fair Hill had just two more (22) on its startlist by the autumn.

Sandwiched in between Morven Park CSI4*-L, the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) young event horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers and Pau (closer to home for European riders and owners), North America’s second five-star date was one factor for the low numbers.

Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal (ISH) at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2025 \ Nigel Goddard

True five-stars

Another is how many true five-star horses are out there competing in the eventing world? And, following on from the ‘What is an Irish Sport Horse? discussion, what is a five-star eventer, or indeed a 1.60m horse, another pinnacle of the ISH market?

Is it one that gets around a five-star or 1.60m track once, a consistent entry on the startlist but not or rarely in the top prize money or, that rarest of all, the headline-maker for years in a row?

Eventing at the Olympics and championships are now four-star level. The short format era paved the way for a modern-type event horse.

It’s similar to the growth of the Ryanair success story in short haul aviation, versus the legacy carriers. Breeding a five-star event winner is a goal of many eventing breeders, although it’s a long-haul flight in comparison to the quicker return for young event and two/three three-star horses commercial markets.

A horse making it to five-star level can either be down to patient planning, strategy, business plan, happenstance or underdog flukes. Sometimes there’s a combination of some or all of those elements seen in the rarest horses of the eventing world: five-star performers that win or finish in the top 10.

Did you know?

  • Willingapark Clifford’s rider Hazel Shannon also has Bonmahon Chelsea (Chellsini Z - Bonmahon Ramiro Star, by Ramiro B. Breeder: Richie Fitzgerald) in her yard. Now renamed Willingapark Chelsea and competing at three-star level, the Waterford-bred won a bronze medal in the six-year-old final at the 2021 FEI WBFSH championships in Le Lion d’Angers with Italy’s Rebecca Chiappero.
  • Two years previously in 2019, Happy Boy won the seven-year-old final at Le Lion with Tim Price. That same pair were fourth at Pau this year.
  • Price also won the 2022 Maryland International with another horse from that final: Coupe de Coeur Dudevin (SF) and more future five-star horses from that classic line-up include Annaghmore Valoner (ISH), Grafennacht (OLD) and, in eighth place, one after Coupe de Coueur Dudevin, was none other than Lordships Graffalo, the standout five-star horse of 2025.
  • Home-bred success stories include Caramia, Centennial, Corimiro (a full-brother to another of Sarah Bullimore’s 5* horses Corouet), Topspin and WEC In The Money.
  • Badminton had the largest startlist in this European championship year with 81 starters and 54 finishers, followed by Pau (53, 39), Burghley (52, 29), Luhmühlen (47, 25), Kentucky (35, 23), Maryland (22, 13) and Adelaide (20, 12).
  • Annaghmore Valoner and Sunday Times are two of three thoroughbred-sired top-10 horses; DSP Fighting Line is the third.
  • Chance Encounter, Cooley Rosalent and Bling have thoroughbred dams.
  • Irish Draught bloodlines include Chance Encounter’s pure-bred sire Creevagh Grey Rebel, Hester’s Blue Henry dam and Lenamore’s sire Sea Crest as the damsire of Sunday Times.
  • Predominant bloodlines? Cavalier Royale, Connor 48, Contender and his son Contendro I, Cruising, Grafenstolz, Heraldik, Kannan, Puissance and Rock King are seen in multiple pedigrees of this group.
  • Artist, Cavalier Crystal, Colorado Blue, Commando 3, Et Hop Du Matz, Lordships Graffalo and Vitali are the five-star ‘unicorns’ to double up on top-10 results in one season.

    • By the numbers

  • €1,403,620 – the current top-ranked show jumping horse Hello Jefferson’s earnings to date in 2025.
  • €273,073 – Lordships Graffalo’s prize money this year.
  • 20 – years old. Willingapark Clifford is the senior of this year’s five-star winners’ pack.
  • 12 – top-10 places recorded by Irish Sport Horses at five-star level in 2025.
  • 7 – five-star three-day events held around the world: Adelaide, Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, Luhmühlen, Maryland and Pau.
  • 5 – studbooks with five-star winners in 2025: Hanoverian, Holsteiner, KWPN (x 2), Sport Horse Breeding (GB) (x 2) and Thoroughbred.
  • 4 – Adelaide 5* wins for Willingapark Clifford (2016, 2017, 2019 and 2025).
  • 3 – Irish Sport Horses in the top 10 at Pau, the highest number for the studbook at a 5* event in 2025.
  • 2 – top-five 5* results this year for Cavalier Crystal.
  • 1 – mare won a five-star in 2025: Cartania.

    • 2025’s five-star top-10 horses

    Adelaide

    1. Willingapark Clifford (TB). 20yo g by Passing Shot – Twin Pearls, by Double Income. Breeder: Sue Monks (Tasmania). Rider: Hazel Shannon (AUS).

    2. The Bandit (TB) 13yo g by Empire Maker – Ravi’s Lovin by Giants Causeway. Breeder: Nagako Fujita. Rider: Shane Rose (AUS).

    3. Wimborne Conjuror (AWHA). 13yo g by Contenda (HANN) – Wimborne Prada, by Poetry In Motion. Breeder: Wimborne Park Stud. Rider: Samuel Jeffree (AUS).

    4. Finch Farm Carpentaria (AWHA). 13yo g by Calgary GNZ. Breeder: Finch Farm. Rider: Jess Somerfield (AUS).

    5. WEC In The Money (AWHA). 14yo g by In The Black (AWHA) – Roxie, by Balou du Rouet (OLD). Breeder/Rider: David Middleton (AUS).

    6. KPH Kingfisher (AWHA). 12yo g by Kannan. Rider: Emma Mason (AUS).

    7. Matrixx (TB). 11yo g by Teofilo – Epona Star, by Red Ransom. Rider: Shane Rose (AUS).

    8. DSE Mendoza (TB) 17yo g by Scaredee Cat – Megan’s Dream, by Marquetry. Breeder: E.N & M.J Kemp. Rider: Donna Smith (NZL)

    9. Ballahowe Ayurvedic (AWB). 15yo g by Alessandro – Northern Fortuna. Rider Yona Lloyd (AUS).

    10. Santoro (AWB). 13yo g by Starnberg. Breeder: Ryans Horses. Rider: Samuel Jeffree (AUS).

    Kentucky

    1. fischerChipmunk FRH (HANN). 17yo g by Contendro I (HOLST) – Havanna (HANN), by Heraldik (TB). Breeder: Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampf. Rider: Michael Jung (GER).

    2. Commando 3 (HOLST). 12yo g by Connor 48 (HOLST) – R-Adelgunde (HOLST), by Amigo (TB). Breeder: Joachim Siebke. Rider: Boyd Martin (USA).

    3. Et Hop Du Matz (SF). 11yo g by Nouma d’Auzay (SF) – Prima Du Matz (SF), by Easy Star (SF). Breeder: Roger Sevette. Rider: Harry Meade (GBR).

    4. Graffenacht (OLD). 13yo m by Grafenstolz TSF (TRAK) – Nachtigall (MECKL), by Narew (TB). Breeder: Hans-Jürgen Bobsien. Rider: Harry Meade (GBR).

    5. Brookfield Quality (ISH). 16yo g by O.B.O.S Quality 004 (OLD) – Bay Coffey Cavalier (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Sean Kelly. Rider: Tom McEwen (GBR).

    6. Fedarman B (KWPN). 15yo g by Eurocommerce Washington (HOLST) – Paulien B (KWPN), by Fedor (BWPN). Breeder: G. & G.M Brinkman. Rider: Boyd Martin (USA).

    7. Luke 140 (HOLST). 14yo g by Landos (HOLST) – Omega VI (HOLST), by Limbus (HOLST). Breeder: Gestüt Rabenhof/Georg Clausen. Rider: Boyd Martin (USA).

    8. Artist (TB). 14yo g by Guillotine – Maxamore, by Volksraad. Breeder: Windsor Park Stud. Rider: Monica Spencer (NZL).

    9. Karma (ISR-OLD NA). 11yo m by Escudo II (HANN) – Trevita, by Lavita (HOLST). Breeder: Patricia Crowley. Rider: James Alliston (USA).

    10. Caramia (HANN). 15yo m by Comte (HANN) – Floretta (HANN), by Fabiano (HANN). Breeder: Libussa Lübbecke. Rider: Annelie Lübbecke (GER).

    Badminton

    1. Lordships Graffalo (SHBGB). 13yo g by Grafenstolz (TRAK) – Cornish Queen (WNTR), by Rock King (AES). Breeder: Lordships Stud/Writtle College. Rider: Ros Canter (GBR).

    2. Cooley Rosalent (ISH). 11yo m by Valent (KWPN) – Bellaney Jewel (TB), by Roselier. Breeder: WJ (Woods) Rosbotham. Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR).

    3. Colorado Blue (SHBGB). 16yo g by Jaguar Mail (SF) – Rock Me Baby (AES), by Rock King (AES). Breeder: Kate Jarvey, Mellon Stud. Rider: Austin O’Connor (IRL).

    4. Cavalier Crystal (ISH). 15yo m by Jack of Diamonds (SWB) – Cavalier Iris (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Thomas Horgan. Rider: Harry Meade (GBR).

    5. Valmy Biats (SF). 16yo g by Orlando (KWPN) – Aurelie du Prieure (SF), by Hadj A (AA). Breeder: Philippe Brivois. Rider: Emily King (GBR).

    6. Superstition (BHHS). 16yo g by Satisfaction (HANN) – Calendula, (WESFT) by Cordalme Z (OLDBG). Breeder: Eva Meier. Rider: Harry Meade (GBR).

    7. D’Accord (HANN). 13yo g by Diarado (HOLST) – Annette (HANN), by Aarking (TB). Breeder: Christa von Paepcke. Rider: Christoph Wahler (GER).

    8. Cola 26 (HOLST). 15yo g by Catoki (HOLST) – Vanessa VII (HOLST) by Contender (HOLST). Breeder: Peter Böge. Rider: Bubby Upton (GBR).

    9. JL Dublin (HOLST). 14yo by Diarado (HOLST) – Zarinna (HOLST) by Canto (HOLST). Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze. Rider: Tom McEwen (GBR).

    10. Vitali (HOLST) 15yo g by Contender (HOLST) – Noble Lady I (HOLST), by Heraldik (TB). Breeder: Günther Fielmann. Rider:

    Tim Price (NZL).

    Luhmühlen

    1. Izilot DHI (KWPN). 12yo g by Zavall VDL (KWPN) – Zilottie W (KWPN), by Marlon (KWPN). Breeder: B.S Wichers. Rider: Ros Canter (GBR).

    2. Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. 14yo g by Caretino (HOLST) – Quantum Flash (TB), by Tristaking. Breeder: Goldengrove Stud NZ. Rider: Samantha Lissington (NZL).

    3. London 52 (HOLST). 16yo g by Landos (HOLST) – Vernante (HOLST), by Quinar Z (HOLST). Breeder: Ocke Riewerts. Rider: Laura Collett (GBR).

    4. Highly Suspicious (ISH). 15yo g by Russel (HOLST) – Cruseings Girl (ISH), by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Eamon Kenny. Rider: Cosby Green (USA).

    5. DSP Fighting Line (DSP). 18yo g by Ostermond (TB) – Pia, by Laretto Diavolo (HOLST). Breeder: Josef Fuchs. Rider: Lea Siegl (AUT).

    6. Carlitos Quidditch K (HOLST). 13yo g by Quiwi Dream (HOLST) – Amsterdam 25 (HOLST), by Cassini I (HOLST). Breeder: Miriam Kuehl. Rider: Malin Hanssen-Hantop (GER).

    7. Hester (BHHS). 14yo m by Heinrich Heine (HANN) – Blue Anna (ISH), by Blue Henry (ID). Breeder: Lucy Nelson. Rider: Laura Collett (GBR).

    8. Jos Ufo di Quidam (AAFE). 17yo g by Lobby des Forets (SF) – Remonta Guinea. Breeder: Jose Ortelli. Rider: Cosby Green (USA).

    9. Cil Dara Dallas (CDE). 10yo g by Diarado (HOLST) – Koyuna Blue Pearl, by Koyuna Quarterback. Breeder: Sarah English. Rider: Isabel English (AUS).

    10. Chance Encounter (ISH)[TIH]. 16yo g by Creevagh Grey Rebel (ID) – Camedia (TB), by Lord Americo. Breeder: Robin Johnston. Rider: Robbie Kearns (IRL).

    Burghley

    1. Lordships Graffalo (SHBGB).

    2. Colorado Blue (SHBGB).

    3. Cavalier Crystal (ISH).

    4. Annaghmore Valoner (ISH). 13yo m by Coroner (TB) – Annaghmore Lady Valier (ISH), by Black Walter (ISH). Breeder: Sinead Healion. Rider: Harry Meade (GBR).

    5. Topspin (AES). 17yo g by Zento (KWPN) – Capriati, by El Conquistador (TB). Breeder: W.D Casburn. Rider: Alice Casburn (GBR).

    6. Vitali (KWPN).

    7. Zaragoza (AES). 12yo m by Cevin Z – Saracen’s Pride (ISH), by Saracen Hill (TB). Breeder: Jane Young. Rider: Gaspard Maksud (FRA).

    8. High Time (KWPN). 13yo g by Hemmingway (HOLST) – Freckleton Maxima’s Mandolin (BWS), by Monte Carlo (KWPN). Breeder: Annie Allen. Rider: Caroline Powell (NZL).

    9. Et Hop Du Matz (SF).

    10. Bling (SHBGB). 12yo m by Kannan (KWPN) – Moody Margaret (TB), by Bahamian Bounty. Breeder: Y. Ferguson. Rider: Laura Collett (GBR).

    Maryland

    1. Cartania (HOLST). 14yo m by Cartani 4 (HOLST) – Clintenda (HOLST), by Clinton (HOLST). Breeder: Günter Koch. Rider: Felix Vogg (SUI).

    2. Artist (TB).

    3. Commando 3 (HOLST).

    4. HSH Blake (ISH). 10yo g by Tolan R (KWPN) – Doughiska Lass (ISH), by Kannan. Breeder: Justin Burke. Rider: Caroline Pamukcu (USA).

    5. FE Lifestyle (DSP). 15yo g by Leo von Faelz (HOLST) – Berina A, by Branderburger (OLDBG). Breeder: Danny Arnold. Rider: Jennie Brannigan (USA).

    6. Humble Glory (TB). 14yo g by Bernardini – Sharpen, by Shovhog. Breeder: Emerald Thoroughbreds. Rider: Sophia Hill (AUS).

    7. Phelps (TB). 12yo g by Tiznow – Boom Town Gal, by Cactus Ridge. Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding. Rider: Mia Farley (USA).

    8. Centennial (NZWB). 14yo g by Euro Sport Centavos (HANN) – Made You Look, by Moonwalker. Breeder: Sonya Mason. Rider: Tayla Mason (NZL).

    9. Chilli’s Midnight Star (SHBGB). 11yo g by Chilli Morning (DSP BERLIN-BRAND) – Midnight Wispa (SHBGB), by Laban. Breeder: N.A Axon. Rider: Jonelle Price (NZL).

    10. Sunday Times (ISH)[TIH]. 18yo g by Cult Hero (TB) – Lackaghbeg Crest (ID), by Sea Crest (ID). Breeder: Paddy Joyce. Rider: Arden Wildasin (USA).

    Pau

    1. Jarillo (KWPN). 11yo g by Dantos HBC (KWPN) – Fiorilla (HOLST), by Alicante (HOLST). Breeder: B. Vriend. Rider: Tim Price (NZL).

    2. Plot Twist B (ISH). 10yo g by Plot Blue (KWPN) – Safieria (KWPN), by Concorde (KWPN). Breeder: Etter Sportpferde AG. Rider: Tom Jackson (GBR).

    3. Cooley Nutcracker (ISH). 11yo g by Tolan R (KWPN) – Ballyshan Cleopatra (ISH), by VDL Arkansas (KWPN). Breeder: Gary Doherty. Rider: Boyd Martin (USA)

    4. Happy Boy (KWPN). 13yo g by VDL Indoctro (KWPN) – W. Amelusina 17 (KWPN), by Odermus (KWPN). Breeder: A. Rijpma. Rider: Tim Price (NZL).

    5. Corimiro (SHBGB). 9yo g by Amiro Z (ZANG) – Lilly Corinne (OS), by Lovis Corinth. Breeder: Brett & Sarah Bullimore. Rider: Sarah Bullimore (GBR).

    6. Chicko (BE/SIES). 15yo g by Corea (HOLST) – Rock Limited Edition (ISH), by Limmerick (HOLST). Breeder: John Reid. Rider: Alex Hua Tian (CHN).

    7. Filao de Perle (SF). 10yo m by Upsilon (SF) – Perle de Sourire (SF), by Echo des Forets II (SF). Breeder: Daniel Sorain. Rider: Benjamin Massie (FRA).

    8. Dirty Old Town (ISH). 10yo g by Cruisings Ambassador (ISH)[TIH] – Puissance Royale (ISH), by Puissance (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Michael Byrne. Rider: Astier Nicolas (FRA).

    9. Galileo Nieuwmoed (KWPN). 14yo g by Carambole (KWPN) – Sjaloma (KWPN), by Harcos (KWPN). Breeder: J.W & A.P Jurrius. Rider: David Doel (GBR).

    10. Senor Crocodillo (HOLST). 11yo g by Connor 48 (HOLST) – Marni (HOLST), by Exorbitant (TB). Breeder: Anke Siewertsen. Rider: Jonelle Price (NZL).