Potential stars shine

A GROUP of potential stars took centre stage on Thursday evening, when entrants in the ISH Studbook-supported four and the five-year-old classes came under the lights for the opening leg.

Judged in the first instance by a panel including event riders William Fox-Pitt, Flora Harris, Georgie Spence and Thomas Carlile, eight horses (from each age sector) from a sizeable field were singled out to go forward to the final in the main outdoor arena.

A change of judges then saw Ground Jury members Jane Tolley (GBR), Anne Marie Taylor (GBR) and Anibal Marianito (POR) at the helm.

The standard improved yet again this year, and while the final order was considerably changed in the outside session, the four-year-old honours fell to Ciara Power with the beautifully produced grey filly Stonehavens Baby Blue.

Bred by Daniel Irish and sourced from Frank Casey as a two-year-old, the winner is by Bonmahon Master Blue out of Hugginstown Betty (Carrick Diamond Lad). Also impressing were the second and third-placed Tadgh Beecher riding Loughnatousa Titus (by Cabriole), and Class Occasion (Porsch), a mare owned by Kathy Charlton and ridden by Cathal Daniels.

The judges in the five-year-old division were also divided in their choice of the winner, but after the scores were totalled, the ribbon went to Patrick Whelan with Mary Phelan’s impressive Theodorus, by the German thoroughbred Albaran out of Kilpatrick Duchess (Kings Master).

Well-placed in the Burghley Young event horse qualifier at Tattersalls, the MJ Kavanagh-bred gelding headed Cathal Daniels with Killossery Klover (by Clover Flush) and Patrick Byrne riding Drumilla Dimontina (Arco).