February 28, 2025 
You could have made the case that they got lucky last year.
After all, we all know that in show jumping, the difference between a rail in the cups and a rail out of the cups often measures in the millimeters. In many cases, good luck does play a role.
In 2024, the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames earned four victories—including the season opener in Doha, Saint-Tropez, Monaco, and Riesenbeck. A tall order, to be sure, and no other team really came close to eclipsing them.
But any question as to how much luck played a role for the Cannes Stars last year was quickly put to rest during the 2025 season opener in Doha. There, the Cannes Stars once again claimed the top of the podium in impressive form. At the end of Round 2, in fact, the Stars were the only team in the field of 17 that left every fence intact.
On the roster in Doha: Sophie Hinners (GER), who produced a perfect double clear on Iron Dames My Prins. While Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann’s (GER) accrued a single time fault in Round 2 aboard new ride, Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre.
Also on the podium in second place in Doha was the Prague Lions’ Fernando Martinez Sommer (MEX) with Lady van de Haarterhoeve, and Pieter Devos (BEL) aboard Primo DV, who finished with a single rail down.
Finally, the new Monaco Comets team—also powered by Iron Dames—rounded off the podium led by a double-clear effort from Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) aboard Fellow Castlefield, and an unlucky rail for Jeanne Sadran (FRA) with Dexter de Kerglenn.
“There is so much support around us, and the team is so motivating—we always want to do our best and are trying to do our best—we’ve seen what is needed to produce these good results from the Cannes Stars,” said newly minted Iron Dames Project rider Edwina Tops-Alexander.
“We know that the best horses are put forward in to the GCL and that is certainly going to be our plan for the season to keep this momentum.”
One of those “best horses” for the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames is undoubtedly the former Julien Epaillard (FRA) ride, Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre. “With [recent CSI5* Doha Grand Prix winner] Messi van’t Ruytershof in our stable since he was five, and High Level carefully developed, we’ve built strong foundations. But with Dubai, there was a positive shock,” Meyer-Zimmermann said.
“Knowing the horse can jump it—and I can too—but we have to do it together. It all comes down to partnership. You can buy a horse, but you can’t buy time.”
To be sure, you can’t buy time, but you can account for talent, and the 12-year-old Selle Français mare has that in spades. In their time together, Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre earned three, 5* Grands Prix wins, including the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix—a record Meyer-Zimmermann will certainly be looking to extend.
According to Jumpr Stats, Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre finishes in the top 10 at 1.60m+ a whopping 62% of the time in nearly 40 rounds. And, as of Day 1, she’s officially proving herself to be a ringer for the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames squad this season.
