IT was just after 11am before the first of the 2017 Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) stallion approvals were announced on Tuesday and by 1pm the following afternoon, this year’s inspections were completed leaving a group of delighted, bemused and disappointed owners in its wake.

This year’s Irish Draught inspection panel consisted of George Chapman, John Corbett, Michael Duignan, Padraig Fitzpatrick, Adrian Hurst and Ger O’Sullivan, while the Irish Sport Horse inspection panel was test rider, Capt. Geoff Curran, Jack Doyle, Tiernan Gill, Chris Ryan, Philip Scott and Alain Storme.

The sport horse candidates, which had a couple of absentees, had the toughest task with just Charles Hanley’s Captain Pearl and Stephen Clifford’s Denzel VDL Z making it through to Stage 1. No stallion reached Stage 2 this year. One by one, this year’s sport horse group, which on paper had some highly commercial sires, ‘did not meet the requirements’ and the loose performance element, where few impressed the inspectors panel, was influential in their final scores.

formality

It can appear to be a box-ticking formality for proven stallions, however the well-produced trio of Colandro, Tyson and Vittorio were still put forward for linear profiling and assessment of their paces. Ivor and Olive Broderick’s Dutch-bred Tyson duly received a five-star rating on the first day for his own performance which included Nations Cup and Grand Prix wins with Leon Thijssen.

Eamon and Gladys McArdle had a 100% success rate the following morning with the three candidates they presented. Both Colandro and Vittorio both notching up four-star ratings for their eventing and show jumping progeny while their Primary was the sole, and successful, thoroughbred put forward at this year’s inspections.

There was one new addition to the Irish Sport Pony studbook when Teresa McKenna’s smart New Forest stallion Jacodi Anja’s Admiral, bred by Jan Greve and competed with great success by Jennifer Kuehnle and Natalie McKenna, was accepted.

Of the 13 Irish Draught stallions, five were awarded Class 1 on the day. However there was an 11th-hour change to the inspection format for Danny Molloy’s homebred The Batchelor who passed three of the four inspection elements on Tuesday. As the loose jumping element was optional, Molloy was the one owner who chose not to tick this box on the application form and then received an email at noon on Monday that his horse would be required to jump.

This arose after the Department of Agriculture indicated last week that the optional performance element was an issue that would have to be discussed with the Irish Draught daughter societies and Molloy has now been given the option of presenting his horse at a later date. “HSI are working with me to sort this out,” said Molloy afterwards.

Another issue that will also come up at the next Breeding Sub-board meeting was an alleged conflict of interest involving one of the Irish Draught candidates.

SMALL CROWD

Despite the efforts of HSI staff to attract a larger audience, the lack of onlookers was another talking point. “It is amazing that there is so much comment and commentary on the product and so little interest in the process and you can’t have one without the other. That is a disconnect that has to be closed,” said breeder Harold McGahern who attended both days.

Another keen spectator was Breeding Sub-board chairman Professor Jack Murphy, whose views on Irish Draught breeding will be featured next week.

“It was like watching paint dry, if I hadn’t a horse here I wouldn’t have a notion of coming to look at it,” was Jimmy Quinn’s candid view on Tuesday, when the ever-faithful Irish Draught enthusiasts and a group of Gurteen College students boosted the spectator numbers. Quinn had one stallion classified as Class 2 at Cavan and had already entered two more of his stallions for the upcoming Irish Draught inspections in the UK.

“Without sounding biased and being honest, I’d have more respect for their assessment,” said owner Jimmy Quinn, of his decision.

Cavan will also be the venue for HSI’s annual stallion parade which takes place on Wednesday, March 22nd at 7pm.

2017 HORSE SPORT IRELAND STALLION SELECTIONS

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

IRISH SPORT HORSE STUDBOOK APPROVED Stal Retto’s Colandro (HOLST). Contendro - J-OHara, by Calandro. Eamon McArdle’s Primary (TB). Giant’s Causeway - Prospective, by Mr Prospective. Kylemore Stud’s Tyson (KWPN). Numero Uno - Kickyqueen, by Voltaire. Paul Hendrix/Stal Hendrix’s Vittorio (HOLST). Calippo - Ma Belle, by Martell.

STAGE 1 Stephen Clifford’s Denzel VDL Z (ZANG). Douglas - Franciska Van Het Beurijdthof, by Cardento. Charles Hanley’s Captain Pearl ISH). Captains Diamond - Chantel S, by Caruso.

IRISH SPORT PONY STUDBOOK

Approved

Teresa McKenna’s Jacodi’s Anja’s Admiral (NNFP). Woodrow Carisbrooke - Anja, by Merrie Moscan.

IRISH DRAUGHT HORSE STUDBOOK

CLASS 1

James Murphy’s Barnaview Grosvenor’s Lad. Grosvenor Lad - Cogan’s Dawn Star, by Annaghdown Star.

Tom Burke’s Castlegar Cool Mist. Castlegar Rebel - Coolagh Mist, by All The Diamonds.

Glenn Knipe’s Farmhill Highlander. WRS Sun Rich - Mizen Holly, by Coolcronan Wood.

Donal Goland’s Grandpa’s Rebel. Rebel Mountain - Becarrig Grandpa’s Girl, by Ard Grandpa.

Eddie Murphy’s Inisfree The Iron Cross. Inisfree The Holy Grail - Inisfree Grey Knave, by Annaghdown Star.

Danny Molloy’s The Batchelor. Fast Silver - Hawklands Blue Heather, by Timahoe Heather (Pending performance assessment).