SOPHIE Richards’ Lion d’Angers mount Business Class has been sold to American event rider Allie Knowles. In a deal orchestrated by event horse sales agents Uptown Eventing, the seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse, who finished seventh in last year’s six-year-old World Breeding Championships, will make his way to the USA.

By Harlequin Du Carel and out of the Quick Star-sired mare Moxella, Business Class was bred by Irish-based American lady Brianne Stanley and her partner Gary Hadden in Tinahely, Co Wicklow.

“Although we are very sad to say goodbye to ‘Oso’ (Business Class), Rachel (Wakefield) has secured us yet another top-class home for one of our ‘Business’ babies and I look forward to following this horse up the grades,” Stanley said.

Business Class is a full brother to high profile event horses Cooley Business Time, who competes at four-star level with British rider Georgie Strang, and Back To Business, seen under American eventer Katherine Coleman.