ODDS-on favourite AKD Cooley performed true to form to land the prestigious Irish Sport Horse Studbook six-year-old class from the front. Ridden as usual by Katie O’Sullivan, the son of Balou du Rouet has surely booked his Le Lion d’Angers ticket as he backed up his Camphire CIC1YH* success to claim his sixth win of the year.

Bred by Anna Dillon, and owned by Richard Sheane, the bay dominated from the start to lead Esib Power aboard Caroline Bjoerk’s home-bred DSL Entertainer.

A comparative newcomer, the Omar-sired gelding has put himself into contention for the French showcase as he completed four marks adrift of O’Sullivan on 41.3. He is a half-brother to Ard Cluedo, and Power was thrilled saying: “To sit on a horse like him and to ride a test like that is amazing, he’s a proper horse.”

Next in line was the British pairing of Tobias Pigott and Lance A Little, who just edged ahead of Sarah Ennis, aboard the country’s other top six-year-old Cooley Cosmopolitan Diamond. Among the others to impress were fifth-placed Tracy Walshe with RLE Penhills Cougar, and John The Bull, ridden by Jonty Evans.

Discovery Classes

Potential was highlighted on Saturday evening, when two classes of the ISH studbook supported four and the five-year-olds came under the lights to contest the first leg of a two-phase competition.

Judged in the first instance by US team manager David O’Connor, together with compatriots Ann Taylor and Robbie Costello, eight horses from a sizeable field were singled out to go forward to the final in the main outdoor arena the following day. A change of judges then saw Ground Jury members Jane Tolley (GBR) and Andrew Bennie (NZ) at the helm, each marking the finalists from separate positions.

As expected, the competition proved tight and appeared not easy to judge, especially as the eight who came forward varied hugely in type and experience.

In the four-year-olds, the duo deliberated for a long time, but unanimously agreed that the winning honours should fall to HSH Luska Legend, owned and ridden by Kelley Hutchinson. Bred by Amie Sterling, the winner is by Sligo Candy Boy, out of Sterling’s event mare Miss Demeanor (White Clover).

Also impressing, were the second and third-placed DJ O’Sullian riding Kennedy Bros Sport Horses’ unnamed gelding by OBOS Quality (dam by Maltstriker) and Hutchinson again, this time with the RDS future event horse finalist HSH Golden Boy by Eastern Hero (dam by Master Imp).

The judges in the five-year-old division were divided in their choice of the winner, but after the scores were totalled, the red ribbon went to Cathal Daniels aboard the continentally bred mare El Tanretto DHI. Already a seasoned campaigner in Eventing Ireland classes, the mare headed Adrian Burrell with his own Chantilly All Quality by OBOS Quality (dam by Maximum Joe) and Ann O’Grady riding Frank Hickey’s I’m Gentleman Jack by Future Trend (dam by Loughtons Flight).

In Quotes

“The event is of a higher level than anything we have seen so far in Europe and a great example for us in Japan” – Kazuma Tomoto, Japanese international rider.

“I’m totally overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of the all-weather surfaces, which our horses have really appreciated. The cross-country was educational and a fair test - our 20 young riders we brought over will have benefited from the Millstreet experience” – Simon Lawrence, British under 18 coach.

Irish eventing should be very, very proud of what the Duggans have achieved here in such a short space of time”– Blyth Tait, New Zealand Olympian.

This is a fabulous venue – we are all fortunate to have access to grounds and courses like this” – Jane Tolley, Ground Jury CCI3*.

“It’s an amazing place with wonderful surfaces, and brilliant to have such a big arena, as it’s a great preparation for even bigger internationals to come. Millstreet ticks all my boxes” – Izzy Taylor, British squad rider.

What a wonderful venue. Mike Etherington Smith has done a wonderful job with the tracks and the terrain enables him to build challenging questions” – Andrew Hoy, Australian Olympian.

“I had to choose between here and Blair – I just love it here, both the surfaces and the courses” – Laura Collett, British squad rider.

“It was an honour to judge the calibre of horses and riders in the CIC3*. We had a world class entry, and the vision that Thomas and Noel C. Duggan have envisaged has come to reality” – Faith Ponsonby, Ground Jury CIC3*.