Rantzau (1946–1971) was a French-bred racehorse that went on to be an influential sire of dressage, show jumping, and eventing horses. Rantzau stood .

Background and breeding Henri Tambareau purchased the Thoroughbred mare, Rancune, in 1943 for use as a broodmare. She had won several times on the racetrack, and came from good lines, including that of the famous jumping sire Bay Ronald.

Rantzau's sire, Foxlight, was one of the best stallions of the French national stud Le Haras du Pin, and also had the blood of Bay Ronald in his pedigree. After a notable career at the track, Foxlight retired to stud duty where he was quite successful, producing both flat racers and steeplechasers. His racing blood included that of Foxlaw (winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and Newmarket Jockey Club Stakes) and Foxhunter (winner of the Ascot Gold Cup).

Career on the track As a three-year-old, Rantzau raced nine races between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, winning two and placing in five. He was then purchased by Marcel Boussac.

Breeding career Marcel Boussac went on to sell Rantzau to the French National Stud at Saint-Lô, and the stallion arrived at his new home in January 1951. When he first arrived, the stud inspector noted that he had: “good front extension, remarkably built through the shoulder and forearm, long haunches, this classy stallion of rare nobility also has low-placed joints and covers ground," and later said he was "high off the ground, with slightly long cannon bones and slightly straight and interiorly bony hocks; but he has a very lovely look, a good frame, good muscle tone, a well-angled shoulder and he is well muscled."

Between 1951 and 1962, Rantzau bred 40–49 mares a year, although these numbers dropped during the second half of his breeding career. However, he covered 772 mares during his 20 years at stud, averaging 38 each year.

It was during this time that he was first recognized as a producer of jumping horses. In 1958, Rantzau was ranked 17th top show jumping producer, moving up to the 11th spot in 1962, and fifth in 1963. In 1964, Rantzau was ranked second leading producer of jumpers, second only to the great Furioso.

In 1970, a new ranking for "best sires of dams" was published, in which Rantzau was ranked 3rd, behind Ibrahim and Furioso. The next year, the year of his death, he was placed first. Although Ibrahim took the number-one spot again in 1973, Rantzau held onto fourth place in 1980, and again managed to rank number one in 1981, ten years after his death.

Rantzau tended to produce sensitive, "difficult" horses, that were very athletic and generally excellent jumpers. Despite this reputation, riders of international calibre were interested in purchasing his offspring.

Progeny Cor de la Bryere: the most famous of Rantzau's sons. One of the most influential stallions in Holsteiner breeding, sired international jumpers and dressage horses, and produced 49 approved sons.

Sire line tree

RantzauJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line Darley Arabian Sire Line: Newminster BranchImage: Rantzau Pacha du Bourg Echo de Cavron Labrador C Nez de Cuit Prince Quelqu'Un Roi du Manoir Starter Cor de la BryereCor de la BryereCor de la Bryère’s legendary showjumping influence Constant Calypso I Calipso Chacomo Calando I Calandus Calei Joter Calypso IICalypso II Champ Of Class Contender ContangoContango Montender Contendro IContendro IFinal farewell to top stallion remembered for his ‘kindness’ Classiker Charon Claas J Colani Chaucer I Crazy Cocktail Chin Chin Chaucer II Carbid Montemorelos la Silla Compliment Cardano Carismo Carneval Contact Calando II Caletto I Cartusch Cantus Come On Calvaro V Calido ICalido I Caesar van de Helle CanturoA tribute to Canturo

Snaike de Blondel Cambridge

Cabrol Amicor Calando III Great Horses of the Past – CorlandusCorlandus, Majestic Power Calypso III Caletto II CaretinoCaretino Concord Cartello B Cheenook Crocadile Dandy Caridor Z Carpaccio Cockney Caretano ZFarewell to Sterrehof's Caytano Z Celesino Connally Chup Chup Cristallo

Caldoto Caresino Carlo Cassini Cascadeur Casino Cento Caridor Z Carpaccio Chico's Boy Clintino Cristallo Cinzano Calypso IV Cavalier RoyaleCavalier Royale Call Again CavalierMary King Remembers Call Again CavalierMary King tells of her devastation at losing Call Again CavalierMary King's heartache as Olympic horse Call Again Cavalier is put down at Express Event Chippison Ben Along TimeBen Along Time Delivers Second World Cup Final Win McGuiness Calypso V Caberet Cicero Cor de Brilliant Calando IV Caletto III Chairman Corrado I Indorado ClintonFarewell to Clinton Cornet Obolensky El Dorado van de ZeshoekEldorado van de Zeshoek: From sporty to influential stallion Zacharov Cortez 679 Cordalme Z Careful 23 Calwaro

Couleur Rouge Carte d'Or Cor Noir Calando V Calando VI Chaka Khan Corland Rocland Come Back I Come Back II Corrado II Corde Star

See also Coulisa

References