“AN infrequent but great treat,” is how owner Joan O’Connor describes her monthly ride on Greenhall Granuaile who, for the second week running, won the Childéric Saddles five-year-old qualifier at Wexford Equestrian on Wednesday under Sarah Ennis.

This was week three of the Stepping Stones to Success young event horse league at Órla Roche and Pat Peare’s Tomhaggard venue and the Derby Arena judges, Ian Fearon and Sweden’s Dag Albert, weren’t the only ones pleased to see the sun shining for the day.

Greenhall Granuaile, whose winning performance was followed in person by breeder Derry Rothwell’s wife Emily, topped Liam Maloney’s assessment of the dressage phase on 54.1 points. When Johnny Kyle’s conformation score was added to those of the jumping judges, the Frankfort Boy mare recorded a second phase tally of 167 for a total of 221.1 points.

The winner of the second phase with 173.5 points was the Sarah Hakala-ridden SHB Diamond In The Rough but that Diamond Roller mare had 10 points deducted for a refusal and eventually finished seventh. The busy Jennifer Kuehnle had a good round (171) with the Royaldik gelding Rodermik to finish second (219.8) on this first week winner who is vying for the league honours with Greenhall Granuaile. Cathal Daniels, who had five rides in this section, slotted into third with Jo Breheny’s home-bred LEB Empress (217.1), a grey mare by OBOS Quality 004.

It will be interesting in a busy week to see if Greenhall Granuaile and Rodermik appear at next Wednesday’s viewing day while points and a half will be on offer on finals’ day, Wednesday, April 24th.

One thing for certain is that if Greenhall Granuaile is at Wexford Equestrian next week then O’Connor will be there to support the grey who is out of one of the Rothwells’ top show broodmares, Greenhall Indicator, a daughter of Limmerick.

“Grace Jones, as I call her, and Sarah are a sublime combination and to see them do dressage is just fabulous,” said the Co Wicklow owner. “Sarah has brought the mare to some sessions with Ian Woodhead and you can see the improvement in her self-carriage. I’m not allowed have her home so, once a month, I go up to Meath and sit up on her myself. The mare is very accommodating as is Sarah!”

While O’Connor might be restricted in what she does with Greenhall Granuaile, she has a lot more freedom at home with her eight-year-old Harlequin du Carel gelding Captain Kerev who she plans to ride at Monart tomorrow before making a return to Eventing Ireland competition.