IT was a busy week for Jane Davis, Head of Equine Marketing at Connolly’s Red Mills, as her employer was sponsoring at the Punchestown Festival, both on the track and in the stableyard.

A week earlier Jane rounded off the 2024 Stepping Stones to Success league at Wexford Equestrian with a win on Tiffany’s Gold in the Treo Eile-sponsored thoroughbred class.

Davis and the six-year-old Bated Breath gelding were only lying third after dressage on 33.5 penalties behind Kate Harrington on Sizing John (29.2) and Elizabeth Power riding Wyett Earp (31). Importantly, however, they completed on their first phase score to claim the win as the leaders picked up penalties jumping (show jumping and cross-country) and dropped right out of contention.

Locally-based Patrick Whelan, who rode out over the winter for point-to-point trainer Harley Dunne, finished second and third on the full-brothers Galileo Secret (33.8) and Galileo Dance (35), who are standing as stallions for the sport horse industry.

The latter won the Irish Horse Welfare Trust award as the highest-placed horse in the league who had raced. Also jumping clear to place fourth last week was Louise Duffy with Al Boum Photo (38.5).

Davis was thrilled to win with the French-bred Tiffany’s Gold who, on his only start for Henry de Bromhead, finished last of 14 in a mile maiden for two-year-old colts and geldings at Dundalk in November 2020.

“I bought him last June from Sarah Neville who had started his re-training,” said Davis of the grey. “He’s the quietest animal you’ll ever come across and just loves his work. Last year we competed in the novice section of the Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile showing pathway series, qualifying at Clonmel for the final and then finishing second at Trim.

“I get coaching, and a lot of support, from Nicky Roncoroni (the British international event rider who lives outside Gowran) and, of course, from my partner, Willie Corrigan, who drives me around the country, helps me with the horse and usually gets no credit!”

Last weekend, the Lisgarvan-based couple travelled up to Co Wicklow to the Kilbride Show where Davis and Tiffany’s Gold won the working hunter championship and were reserve in the ridden championship. Their main target in the next few weeks is Balmoral Show where they are due to start in the large riding horse class and the five and six-year-old working hunter class.