THERE were two owner-bred winners at the second of the year’s Ballindenisk International Horse Trials, which took place last weekend at the Fell family’s Watergrasshill venue in Co Cork, and both came at two-star level.

In the CCI2*-L the honours went to the Ian Cassells-ridden Master Point, one of the country’s most consistent seven-year-olds, who was bred by Co Kildare veterinary surgeon Bridget McGing. The traditionally bred bay is by the US-bred thoroughbred Pointilliste out of the Kings Master mare Chikari (CIC2*).

Given the fact that Master Point had recorded a hat-trick of EI110 victories in July, his most recent form hadn’t been that good and he was actually eliminated last time out at Grove. However, this was because he had unseated Cassells who injured both ligaments in his left ankle in the incident and was hobbling around at Ballindenisk.

Yvonne Monahan (C) and Liam Maloney (B) had the Newcastle, Co Dublin-based rider at the top of their leaderboard following the dressage phase of this 37-strong class but this was on the seven-year-old OBOS Quality 004 gelding Kellys Quality (25 penalties). Master Point was second at this stage on 26.1 with the nine-year-old Vechta gelding Malcolm X (27.1) lying third under Clare Abbott.

The trio occupied the first three positions throughout but the Cassells stable-companions swopped places when Kellys Quality, who was having just his sixth eventing start, picked up 1.2 cross-country time penalties.

“My two horses were foot-perfect all weekend,” said the delighted rider, “and I’m really delighted for Bridget who is a great supporter of mine and the sport. The going on the cross-country course was perfect but I did think the tracks could have been beefed up a bit. The sand arena was a lot better this time around so fair play to the Fells – they did a great job with it and their efforts in putting on the two events are much appreciated.

“While these two horses will have a bit of a break now and go show jumping over the winter, I have plenty of young horses to get out and will be competing at Frankfort Stud and Punchestown and may do those H.S.I. development classes.”