Quindam de Revel
Selle Français 169 cm born 1982
Breeder: Le Prince Amaury De Broglie
In 2004, Quidam de Revel topped the World Breeding
Championships Jumping Stallion ratings for the second
year running, establishing himself as the pre-eminent –
and most expensive – living sire of jumping horses.
With ten (!) of his progeny jumping at the WEG in Jerez
2002, he was the stallion with the most number of progeny at this level.
Quidam was himself a jumping star; a member of the French Olympic Team, and fourth individually at the Barcelona Olympic Games with Herve Godignon. A year later the patriotic French breeders were shocked when Danish businessman, Flemming Velin purchased the stallion for a still secret sum, believed to be a record at the time.
In an article in HORSE INTERNATIONAL (No 1 – 2003), Velin told the journalist, Pernille Linder Velander: “I am a Thoroughbred person. Quidam is the kind of horse that appeals to me. He is a perfect beauty. If you compare him to the legendary Northern Dancer, you could hardly tell who is who. They could be twins.”
But Mr Velin got more than a breeding stallion, he purchased the ultimate ‘school-master’ for his son, Thomas, taking him on to win such prestigious events as the Grand Prix of Hannover. According to Thomas: “The feeling I got from Quidam has taught me what it should feel like to sit on a really good horse. If you have not had that experience, you simply cannot imagine what it can be like. When in the air, if needed, Quidam could just… like put in another gear, make another effort and jump higher still even after taking off from the ground.”
Quidam de Revel unites two of the most important lines of the Selle Français horse – the lines of Jalisco and Uriel.
Jalisco is a legend in his own right, but Quidam’s dam was also a star – Dirka, despite being only 163 cms, won at international level with Nelson Pessoa, before being given to Xavier Leredde who made his junior international debut on her.
Returned to her breeder, Prince Amaury de Broglie, Dirka was bred to Sans Souci, to produce two international competitors, Orka and Paprika de Revel, then with Jalisco B she produced Quidam de Revel and the broodmares, Razzia and Sarah de Revel. With Jalisco’s half brother, Kisosovo, she produced CSO winner, Vallon Rouge, and with Narcos, Aiglon Rouge, a star in Holland. With Quat’sous, she produced Byra Rouge, and with Pappillon Rouge, Dirka de Revel. What a mare!
Dirka’s dam, Ondine de Baugy produced five broodmares, and from them came the stallions, Sheyenne and Sioux de Baugy. Ondine’s dam Nadine produced five foals, all by Nankin. Troubadour B, won the 6 year old final and jumped at international level; Uriel, the most influential national stallion of the Selle Français book, and star of the great St Lô stud; Commander, an international competitor for Switzerland; Daguet de Baugy, a CSI winner for Belgium, and Voulzie, the dam of Furiel de Baugy.
Quidam’s pre-eminence as a sire was confirmed at the 2002 WEG in Jerez, where he was the sire of more showjumping participants than any other stallion.
Current performers include: Goldy, Guidan, Circa Z, Tlalloc La Silla, Nabab de Rêve, Dollars Boy, Hermès St Lois, Happy Villers, Jadis de Toscane, Belsedène d’Amaury, Bamby II, Baie Mahault, Coucou des Vivreau, Demie-Lune, Darios V, Furka du Village, Huppydam des Horts, Eve des Étisses, Daibolo du Parc, Dolovia de Sapaie, Drakkar de Phaële, Diam de la Ressée, Daibolo du Parc, Étoupe, Bianca d’Amaury, Eyken des Fontenis, Electra d’Amaury, Éburovic Granpré, Coco Chanel Trèfle, Billy de Forcilles, Happy Villers.
In the survey of the world's top 75 jumping sires that appears in the French publication, Monneron 2007-2008, compiled by Bernard le Courtois (visit www.brullemail.com), Quidam de Revel is Number 1 with 48 CSI winners and he is also represented by two sons. Nabab de Reve (out of an Artichaut mare) is 18th with 14 CSI winners, while Guidam (out of a Vénutard mare) ranks 19th with 12 winners, including Authentic, second best performer in the world in 2006.