The 10-Year-Olds that are Narrowing in on James Kann Cruz
Today's best ten-year-old horses are strong contenders for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Who ranks among the best & how do they compare to previous champions?
James Kann Cruz finished 2022 as the highest-rated nine-year-old horse of that year and by default entered 2023 as the highest-rated 10-year-old. The Irish-bred gelding has been lonely at the top of this rating and has been holding onto this title for almost 11 full months. Recently though, a number of his peers have started playing catch-up.
Dubai du Cedre
European medalist & Super Grand Prix winner
The biggest threat to James Kann Cruz’ title is Dubai du Cedre. Julien Epaillard’s chestnut gelding has been jumping into the spotlight on the world’s biggest stages recently. The pair claimed the individual bronze medal at the Jumping European Championships in Milan this summer and continued this superb form into the indoor season. After winning the Grand Prix of Lyon on home soil, they claimed the runner-up spot in the World Cup the following day. This was the perfect preparation for their victory in the LGCT Super Grand Prix at the Prague Playoffs just 2 weeks later.
Stats at 5* 160
23 rounds - 17 clear - 48% clear rate - 4.7 CAS
Dynamix de Belheme
European Champion & consistent clear jumper
Just one Elo point short of Dubai du Cedre, stands our Individual European Champion, Dynamix de Belheme. Under Steve Guerdat, Dynamix had a strong start to the year with a 4* Grand Prix win at the Sunshine Tour, shortly followed by a fourth place in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of ‘s Hertogenbosch. The mare’s quality was confirmed at the European Championships in Milan. As the only horse in the field to not knock a fence throughout the entire championship, Dynamix de Belheme claimed individual gold.
Stats at 5* 160
17 rounds - 12 rounds - 71% clear rate - 6.7 CAS
Donatello d’Auge
Double LGCT Grand Prix winner
Julien Epaillard has two of the strongest 10-year-olds in the world. Donatello d’Auge has been a great partner for the Frenchman throughout the year, starting off with a World Cup win in Amsterdam in January. The pair was particularly successful on the LGCT circuit, taking home two Grand Prix titles. After claiming the win in Saint-Tropez, they followed it up with a victory in the richest Grand Prix of the circuit in Monte Carlo.
Stats 5* 160
22 rounds - 10 clears - 46% clear rate - 4.1 CAS
Ranking among the greats
James Kann Cruz among Olympic Champions
While the aforementioned are definitely getting closer to James Kann Cruz’ Elo rating, he remains 6 Elo points ahead of Dubai du Cedre. As a matter of fact, only 2 other horses have recorded a stronger 10-year-old season than James Kann Cruz.
Reigning Olympic Champion Explosion W holds the record for highest-rated 10-year-old with an Elo rating of 804. It is unlikely that James Kann Cruz would be able to match this in the remaining 5 months of the year. The 2016 individual Olympic Champion, Big Star, posted an Elo rating of 776 at 10 years old back in 2013. That is just 1 Elo point more than James Kann Cruz’ current Elo rating of 775.
Dubai du Cedre equals championships stars
Last weekend’s Super Grand Prix victory has allowed Dubai du Cedre to enter a very elite group of horses. On a current Elo of 769, he has posted one of the Top 10 highest-rated 10-year-old seasons recorded, equalling the ratings of Hansson WL, Flora de Mariposa and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z at 10 years old.