Crested Sparrow flies high to win

EDIE Murray-Hayden, who has made headlines in the thoroughbred sales world, recorded her first Eventing Ireland success since August 2015 when landing Section B of the EI110 class at Glaslough (2) on Saturday with the mare Crested Sparrow.

The Kilcullen-based pinhooker, pre-trainer and sport horse producer was one of just two riders in this 19-strong class to complete on her dressage score (31), the other being Co Down’s Emily Corbett who finished second with her own six-year-old Clover Brigade gelding Tyrella Thunder (31.3).

The latter was bred by Mary McCann out of the unraced Fantale (a King’s Theatre half-sister to two track winners), while the seven-year-old Crested Sparrow, who is by the Swedish Warmblood stallion Jack Of Diamonds, was bred by his owner, Rita Lyons, out of the Irish Sport Horse mare See The Sparrow. The latter, who comes from the family of Bosun, Buccaneer and First Mate, was bred by the McCanns at Hartwell Stud, longtime base of her sire, the Connemara stallion Ashfield Bobby Sparrow.

Win for Abbott

Hillsborough’s Clare Abbott travelled over to Glaslough for just the one ride last Saturday but it proved a worthwhile journey as Cormac McKay’s home-bred Mr Mighty landed the 20-runner EI90 on his winning dressage score (28.5 penalties) on his Eventing Ireland debut. “With Badminton, etc, I was just slow getting going with his fellow but I think a lot of him. I know it was just a 90 class but it took nothing out of him. I also feel we need to support these events as they really do serve a purpose.”

The five-year-old Mr Mighty is one of just five foals registered on CapallOir by the McKay-bred Gatcombe, a son of the five-star show jumper Gatsby (by Simba out of Cruising mare), who McKay also bred, out of the Condios mare Aughmore Summer Time Dream. Unfortunately, there is no record of the breeding of Mr Mighty’s dam which means the bay gelding cannot compete in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook classes nor in the Burghley young event horse classes at Tattersalls July Show which Abbott is targeting next weekend with her four-year-olds.

Two combinations vied for the runner-up spot on Saturday on 32.8, Co Meath-based Robert Frazer, who is better known as a show jumper, finishing second on the 2015 Camillo VDL gelding Portvale Lad while Alan Keoghan had to settle for third with the six-year-old Ellie M who has having just her second start.