DHI Showtime puts in another smart winning performance

NOW on a roll, Michael McNally and Amanda Goldsbury progressed to post another one/two in the first of two divisions of the EI100.

Leading from flag fall, McNally rode Gavin Smiddy’s smart DHI Showtime, the horse he also won on at Lisgarvan two weeks earlier. A son of OBOS Quality, the well related five-year-old is out of Caherline Kitty by Master Imp and, bred by Joseph O’Reilly in Co Limerick, is a younger full brother to the highly rated Clara Olala, winner at Lisgarvan with Michael Ryan the previous week.

Goldsbury came close to making it four wins in a row with Zazel McCarthy’s Finsceal Endeavour, and while they moved up from an original third place, they eventually had to settle for the runner-up spot behind McNally. Sam Watson will have been pleased to fill third with his wife Hannah’s (Sparkles) mare Grantstown Charisma, as will Lizzie Scholefield (Headdon Bewitched) in fourth. The remaining results fell largely in dressage order, as only two of the 25 runners clocked up cross country penalties.

Win for Barker

It was Co Wicklow’s Leila Barker who halted the Goldsbury procession, when she took the top spot in the first of two sectors of EI 90. Riding the143cms Connemara pony Blackwoodland Breeze for Yvonne Vard, Barker took the lead from the outset, and retained her opening score of 24.8. The 11-year-old pony is usually partnered by Yvonne’s daughter Alisha, but due to the current Covid restrictions regarding under-age riders, Barker has been deputising.

“I train Alisha at home, and Yvonne is keen for me to get some more mileage with him while Alisha is unable to compete,” explained Barker. Blackwoodlands Breeze has enjoyed plenty of success with Alisha in the saddle, and has previously evented in England, as well as been shown at both Balmoral and at the RDS.

Several professional riders have picked up rides on junior horses this lockdown, and another to benefit was Amanda Goldsbury who, riding the pony Comberton Clover for Janet Williamson, slotted into second place. Pony rider Josh Williamson will be looking forward to returning to the fray with this smart pony, rarely unplaced last season.

Unusually, the 28 runners all recorded a clean sheet across the country, but the show jumping did prove influential. Of those who did return double clear, Eva Melly and Ardeo Rocketman filled third behind Goldsbury, while Daniel Alderson, in his new position with Global Event Horses, took fourth with Global Javall Gold.

Whelan triumphs

With five rides over the course of the day, Patrick Whelan was another busy professional. He enjoyed good spins with all five, but was especially pleased to land back-to-back victories with Lawrence Patterson’s home-bred Drumnaconnell Kobie. A winner at Tyrella on his debut run two weeks ago, the five-year-old son of Road To Happiness is the first foal out of Kings Jewel by Kings Master.

“He’s the coolest little horse ever,” stated Co Wexford-based Whelan. “He’s rather like a younger version of my old horse Footfall – but probably better! The courses here today rode really well, they were inviting and there was nothing to catch you out.”

Pauline Dahill, who led the dressage riding fellow five-year-old MBF Lord Lancer Bobbie, lost her winning advantage in the show jumping, but holding on to second, completed ahead of third-placed Diarmuid Keeling with the thoroughbred Masons Honour.

This fixture was the second of three scheduled at Will Kearney’s popular Frankfort venue, and despite the dry spell, riders were very appreciative of the work put in on the ground. All the tracks were agrovated, and the courses encouraging. The third and final fixture is due to take place on September 26th.