THE fourth and final qualifier in the 2018 Young Event-Horse Series was held on Tuesday at Rincoola where, following three wins from three outings, the Ita McDermott-owned and ridden Emerald Emoe was crowned winner of the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored four-year-old league.

The Orestus mare held just a one-point lead over D’Millo Express following the ridden display in Section A here and both recorded clear rounds. However, McDermott’s mount fared the better when the thoroughbred blood percentage came into the reckoning and surged clear following the addition of the suitability and potential marks.

At the close of play, Emerald Emoe finished on 322.10 points while D’Millo Express, who took the first qualifying ticket in this section, was on 314.30. The runner-up, who was ridden for owner Paul Grant by Stephen Holland, is a bay gelding by Camillo VDL out of the Cougar mare Templemaley Express.

Also qualifying on Tuesday were the Emma Jackson-owned and ridden Cruising Harry gelding A Pennyforluck (313.90) and the Lux Z gelding Kilnamac Oscar (311.70) who is owned in partnership by rider Johnny Mulligan and Andrew Graham.

Better known in show jumping circles, McDermott was delighted with her mare through the series and is very much looking forward to riding her at Dublin.

“After doing all the hard work, I’m definitely going to ride her there,” said the Ballina-based competitor who wasn’t being persuaded to part with the mare by Richard Sheane who was in the company of Canadian international riders Rebecca Howard and Kelly McCarthy-Maine.

Emerald Emoe, who is jointly-owned by McDermott’s husband Shay Quinn, won’t be travelling on her own to the RDS as McDermott has also qualified her Quaid mare Katorevel for the four-year-old jumping championship at the August show.

Emma Jackson qualified a second horse on Tuesday when she won Section A with Lawrence Patterson’s Ballycreen The Kings General (320.60) ahead of the previously-qualified Shirsheen Ice (317.20), who was ridden by Linda Murphy for her father Pat, breeder of the Beowulf gelding. Fraser Duffy took the second qualifying ticket on Carol Gee’s OBOS Quality 004 gelding Fernhill Fifty Shades (310.10).

The winner, a good-looking son of Kings Master, was bred in Co Wexford by David Asp Cosby and, being out of the Orbis mare Ballycreen Anouschka, is a full-brother of the three-star eventer Ballycreen Milord.

Disappointingly for Daisy Duggan, she had to withdraw most of her horses on Tuesday as they were just a bit under the weather while Jason Higgins, who had been in contention for first place in the league with Mary Bolger’s Tolan R gelding Kilcannon Dude, decided to check out horses at the Derby Sale instead.

In addition to sponsoring the two leagues, Horse Sport Ireland arranged for Lar Sutton of Irish Sport TV to video every round each week with those of the first three in all classes going on-line.

As remarked by YES administrator/secretary Barbara McGreal in her posting of thanks to various bodies and individuals this week: “The wonderful videos from each venue showcase the best of Irish breeding and highlight the challenge provided by each unique venue.”

Those who only watch the action in Dublin would be surprised to know how difficult it is to get there.