DISAPPOINTINGLY, I wasn’t at Stradbally on Sunday and so missed seeing my good friend Fiona Wentges saddle, and lead up, her first point-to-point winner, Habaroun, in the adjacent hunts’ maiden at the Laois Foxhounds’ fixture.

By Dr Fong out of the Marju mare Haratila, the now eight-year-old was bred by the Aga Khan Stud who had the bay in training with Michael Halford but he never ran on the track. Fiona, who worked with Michael for many years, starting his horses over jumps, was able to secure Habaroun at the end of 2011 and he has since taken pride of place at her one-horse yard in Killucan.

A series of mishaps has seen Habaroun run just six times between the flags and, being very much a good ground horse, he has only managed to complete twice, placing fourth at Stradbally in April 2014 behind Our Commander.

On all six starts, he has been partnered by Mark Lynch whose presence in the saddle is vital as far as Fiona is concerned: “If Mark isn’t available to ride, the horse won’t run. I ride him out at home but am indebted to the Lynch family as he works with their horses at their yard and when they go away to either Derravarragh or the Curragh.”

Fiona was one of the Ireland’s top event riders and represented the country at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 riding Ballylusky who was owned by the Martin family of Moyglass, Co Tipperary. One of her best horses was the Northern Value gelding Oliver, on whom she won a team silver medal at the 1991 European championships in Punchestown, while she also competed on ex-racehorses such as Northern Moss, a Conna maiden winner by Le Moss.

FORMER EVENTER

Fiona was also a very fine show horse rider and looked particularly elegant riding side saddle. She did try Habaroun under side saddle at home but not in public. “We were both getting a bit bored last year and I thought it was something to do,” explained the Co Westmeath handler. “I did do a couple of racehorse to riding horse classes with him but I’d much rather have him pointing.”

Among previous horses to have been trained by Fiona and to have carried her navy and white colours between the flags was Royal Agenda, who she owned in partnership with Fran Coonan and his wife Pam. They were both at Stradbally on Sunday as was good friend Denise Norton, but Fiona’s family were otherwise engaged as her niece Rosie was competing in the Mad Hatters’ Race at Oldcastle on the mare Dottie.