THE Tattersalls Ireland/Connolly’s Red Mills All Ireland Thoroughbred Broodmare Championship was staged at Adamstown’s 70th Anniversary Show in Co.Wexford last Saturday.

Fifteen high quality broodmares participated in a closely contested competition which was judged by two well respected leading Irish breeders, Ken Parkhill (Castletown Quarry Stud) and Frank Motherway (Yellowford Farm).

This well-established event had a purse of €1,500 with prizes down to 10th place. In addition, stallion farms from across Ireland donated nominations to 19 different National Hunt sires as part of the prize fund.

The winner of the champion broodmare class was the seven-year-old Midnight Velvet (by Midnight Legend out of Tamergale), owned by Michael Murphy of Redbridge Stables in Duncormick, Co Wexford. From the family of Irish Champion Hurdle winner Fredcoteri, the British-bred mare cost €42,000 at the 2013 Derby Sale and was placed in both her starts in bumpers for trainer Philip Hobbs before being sold for £15,000 to current connections.

The reserve champion was Beg La Eile (by Lahib out of Iberian), owned by Roger McGrath from Cappoquin, Co Waterford, with Bells Glory (by Presenting out of Cavan Glory), owned by John Roche from Foulksmills, Co Wexford, taking third place.

The winner of the best filly foal class was the Kayf Tara foal out of Midnight Velvet.

The best colt foal class was won by the April-born Shantou colt out of Eva La Diva, who was shown by George Connolly of Burgage Stud, Co Carlow. This colt was also declared the champion thoroughbred foal, receiving the Seanie Murphy Perpetual Cup and sash.

Colt foals by Sholokhov (Roger McGrath) and Westerner (Neil Roche) filled second and third placings in the best colt class.