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Three exceptional horses that achieved great feats. The special thing about them being that they are all very closely related to Rubinstein. Rubinstein's dam Antine is the full-sister of Amon and Ahlerich as well as the mare Adone, who together with Romadour II gave birth to Rembrandt. What's more, Romadour II is the grandsire of Rubinstein with his gold plated pedigree. And what a pedigree it is! This was exactly what caused Gudula Vorwerk-Happ to take notice. A stallion from this world-wide probably unparalleled family, ritzy, black and what's more, cheap. The exceptional sire cost a mere DM 35.000 as a three-year old. Before this he had been rejected for the Westphalian approvals at an inspection meeting. The officials tersely said that he was "too small, not enough horse, with defects on the hind leg not suitable for approval". Yet De Baey had faith in the black horse, did not have him castrated and shortly afterwards welcomed Vorwerk-Happ with the Oldenburg approvals commission to his studfarm. They in turn were impressed and above all wanted to secure themselves the valuable blood for their breeding region. That confirmed it and Rubinstein went to Oldenburg where the black horse was given every opportunity to prove himself.

A successful team, the top mares Adone and Antine with
the breeder of Olympic horses Herbert de Baey.

At the follow-up approval in 1988 he was accorded the recognition due to him and already during his first year of covering duty was in such great demand as hardly any other young stallion had been before him. The breeders waited apprehensively for the results of the stallion performance test. and were certainly not disappointed. As anticipated, Rubinstein absolved the test with flying colours, gaining high scores in rideability, achieving a score of 136,56 points and coming third of field of 66 contenders. His jumping ability was also evaluated as above average.

The young Rubinstein, a magnificent horse.

Then his first crop of foals arrived: Their exterior was very correct and stylish with delicate faces, even better than their sire as regards trotting. Sixteen foals alone received the premium of "stallion contender" and were awarded a straight score of 10.0 points. One even caused a sensation. The federal foal champion Rubicon changed owners at the Vechta autumn auction for the sum of DM 53.000, thereby being the most expensive auctioned foal of all times. And as if Rubinstein had wanted to prove the point to the Westphalians who had one year earlier spurned him, the four-year old won the "Optimum" in Münster, becoming the conformation horse champion! The award at the Oldenburg approval was the logical consequence of the extraordinary successes of the young stallion, both under the saddle, as well as in his hereditary transmission. In 1990 Rubinstein was declared the main premium winner accompanied by thundering applause.

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