Hilltop Farm purchased Bugatti just after his initial Stallion Licensing. His type, pedigree, and movement offered great promise and he was an excellent complement to our existing stallion line-up. As a three year-old, Bugatti earned a score of 140 points in the dressage portion and finished first in that phase of his 70-day performance test. He earned well deserved scores of 9 on character, rideability, temperament, and all three gaits. Hilltop Farm chose to leave Bugatti in Europe for continued training and competition. Under Michael Klimke he competed at the Bundeschampionat in 2003 & 2004 and finished in the Top 12 each year. Bugatti continued on to the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horse, and National and International competitions at Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire.
Flyinge, the National Stud of Sweden, leased Bugatti for three breeding seasons while he was in Europe. Many Bugatti offspring were highlighted with scores ranging from 47-51 points in the Swedish evaluation system and he had six Foal Championship winners in his first foal crop alone despite his limited time in Sweden. His strong BLUP Index scores still have him in the top 25th rankings for dressage, type, temperament, and walk for all dressage stallions.
In the fall of 2007, Hilltop Farm finally brought Bugatti “home” to the US. He instantly settled into life on the farm and quickly formed an excellent working partnership with his new trainer Christopher Hickey. Their first season of showing produced numerous wins at Prix St. Georges & Intermediaire, including the Championship at the USDF Region 1 Finals for Prix St. Georges with a score of 72.625% and a Reserve Championships in the Intermediaire Freestyle. From torrential downpours during Devon 2008 to rolling spotlights, loud music, and a screaming audience of thousands at Equine Affaire, Bugatti consistently offered his best and demonstrated his reliability and rideability.
Chris and Bugatti continued their partnership through the spring of 2010 and successfully competed through Intermediaire II. While Chris was in Germany, Michael Bragdell took over the ride and Bugatti proved an excellent schoolmaster to advance Michael’s training in all of the FEI work. In their first Prix St. Georges tests together they were rewarded with a 65 & 68% and earned Michael the final scores required for his USDF Silver Medal. The following seasons Michael gained valuable experience at Intermediaire I and schooling the Grand Prix work with Bugatti.
Bugatti’s oldest US-bred offspring are winning in dressage competitions and three-day eventing around the country. Their inspection scores for ISR/Oldenburg and Hanoverian inspections were among some of the highest in the country. In 2009, two Bugatti daughters were named Champion Fillies at their large AHS inspections and earned high praise from Verband officials, including this write-up in the AHS Magazine of “The most spectacular youngster here …. Her elegance connected with size, trot movement of the highest quality, and a very good walk make her a first-class riding horse prospect.”
Boxster A (ds. Weltbekkant) was ranked 3rd in the nation at First Level in 2011 and is winning at Fourth Level with a median score over 70% in 2014. In 2013, Boccaccio IOF(ds. Rubinstein I) competed in the USDF National Championships finishing as the First Level Champion and 2nd Level Reserve Champion. The following year, Boccaccio was Reserve Champion at the USDF National Finals for Third & Fourth Levels. Bimmer(ds. Wendekreis) was Reserve Champion at Third Level for USDF Region 5 and Bellatesse HTF (ds. Cordoba) won the USEF Four-Year Old Final at Dressage at Devon in 2013.
While we take enormous pride in the competitive success of these offspring, we are equally pleased to hear from their owners’ what a joy they are to handle and train each day and that they consistently demonstrate the reliable, quiet temperament that Bugatti himself always offers.
The genetic value behind Bugatti is outstanding due to both the sire and dam lines. Bugatti’s sire Bergamon has sired 5 approved sons, including the popular Baroncelli. Bergamon is a son of Baryshnikov (by Bolero), winner of his 100-Day test and many time winner in S-level Dressage tests. Bugatti’s grandsire Rubinstein was an international dressage competitor and prolific sire of both exceptional competitors and breeding stock. The Rubinstein descendents are known for their rideability and type and this has been one of the most popular dressage lines in recent history. Rubinstein’s sire line produced Rembrandt 24, the many-time international Gold Medalist under Nicole Uphoff, and his dam line produced Reiner Klimke’s dressage star, Ahlerich.
Bugatti’s great-grandsire Donnerhall adds even further depth to his pedigree. For nearly two decades, Donnerhall captured hearts worldwide with his charm and powerful presence. Donnerhall ranked #1 in the 2000 German FN’s index for all German stallions of his age group in both the Dressage and Overall divisions. Under Karin Rehbein, Donnerhall won many World Cup, World Championship, and German Championship titles. Donnerhall has produced dressage horses that win in competitions around the globe and his sons, such as DeNiro and Don Schufro, have established this bloodline as a leader in sporthorse production.
The mares in Bugatti’s pedigree are of equal importance. SPS Raffinesse, Bugatti’s dam, also produced the licensed son Santana (ds. Sandro Hit), the 2006 Scandanavian Open Champion, and competitor at the 2012 Olympic Games and 2014 World Equestrian Games. Bugatti’s maternal granddam SPS Desiree, is a full-sibling to Donnerschlag and has produced many successful sons and daughters, including St.Pr.St. Renomée, and the approved stallion Riverside (by Regazzoni) who won both his 30- and 70-Day Performance Tests in Germany
Paternal granddam Paola is a full sister to Pik Bube I & II whose influence has been felt especially in the Oldenburg and Hanoverian breeding regions. Paola has produced outstanding offspring her entire career, including Primavera (by Donnerhall). Primavera was the 1992 Champion of the Oldenburg Elite Mare Show, the Riding Championships at Rastede winner, and was third at the Federal Championships that same year and was nicknamed “the queen of movement.” Paola also produced the stallion Donnerklang and her full sister Pirola produced multiple approved stallions. With the strength of these mares behind him, Bugatti’s success is no surprise.
