Global Event Horses CCI4*-S

HAVING narrowly missed out on a Tokyo call up, Joseph Murphy gained some small compensation when winning the feature CCI4* class with the extravagant grey Calmaro.

The Co Down rider, who quarantined with the Olympic squad in Aachen, enjoyed the smoothest of runs and, rising from an original third spot delivered one of just two double clears within the time.

Only a 10-year-old, the Carpelano-sired gelding, who is owned by the rider together with Claire and Charlie Mayne, was sourced from British rider Laura Collett last year, and has since racked up four wins on Irish soil.

“It was a nice consolation,” Murphy commented afterwards. “Calmaro is maturing nicely, and was great in every phase. The show jumping is always tricky here, so to go clear is very valuable. I’m pleased to have this qualification under my belt, and as he’s clocking up the mileage, the Millstreet long format four-star would be the obvious choice for later in the month.”

Chasing Murphy throughout, and just a mark adrift, second place fell to Esib Power riding her home-bred mare Azure. Both fast and clear in both jumping phases, the nine-year-old by Omar is the fourth foal out of Power’s useful event mare Cavalier Roselier, and has always impressed her rider.

“I’ve said for a long time how wonderful she is, and now is her time to shine,” enthused Power. “I was far from perfect today, but she made up for it. She was dynamite and so smart and clever - she really put a smile on my face.”

Another bound for Millstreet, although at present it is undecided whether she will run in the long or short format class, Power remarked: “Millstreet aside, I would really like to give her some experience out of the country and ideally at Boekelo at the end of the year.”

Both jumping phases proved immensely influential, and the class was initially turned on its head when the overnight leaders Alison Holden and Oh My Balladeer lowered two rails over Tony Hurley’s testing show jumping course.

The pair had clearly impressed the Ground Jury of Faith Ponsonby and Joan Ahern to score 27.6, and while their demotion was tough for connections, the duo progressed to enjoy a good spin across the country and an eventual fifth place. In second spot overnight, Louise Bloomer and Shannondale Icarus also lost their early advantage in the show jumping, and while they were still in contention heading into the country, the pair hit the log pile at the fourth and, clearly unhappy afterwards they retired a few fences later. They were the sole combination to walk home, although two other runners picked up isolated penalties.

Significantly, there were only seven show jumping clears among the 19 starters, but the time across country was also a factor. Having lowered fences many of the fancied contenders opted not to chase the clock, but one who did was the third-placed pair of Sofie Walshe and the thoroughbred Kinsau. Despite carrying four penalties forward from the show jumping, the four-star first-timers ate up the ground to complete with just 1.6 penalties, ahead of the speedy, Patrick Whelan aboard the veteran Footfall.

The latter pair show jumped clear, as did Alex Donohue aboard the consistent Kilcandra Bonnie Reward in sixth, seventh-placed Antonia Ward (Christopher Robin 2) and Michael Ryan with Clara Mountain (8th). There were several four-star debutantes including Lucy Hancock who was delighted to have achieved her ambition of completing with Goldman.