Margie McLoone

THE Irish Thoroughbred Marketing racehorse to riding horse class was won for the third year in a row last Saturday by Joanne Quirke who doubled up on her 2014 success with the Goat Racing Syndicate’s Forpadydeplasterer.

Disappointingly, this was a poor renewal of the class as it was far too rushed and exhibitors, most of whom paid €325 to enter, deserved more time in the ring both to enjoy the occasion in front of friends and family and settle their horses, a couple of whom boiled over and were asked to leave.

There was little time in walk and no change of rein when horses were partnered by their regular riders (all female) nor by judge Barry Geraghty who then passed the horses on to be assessed for conformation by Lady Cecil.

The National Hunt jockey had a later engagement at Kilbeggan, where he rode a winner for the Jessica Harrington yard, which could have put pressure on time.

It would have made sense therefore to cancel the preceding performance of French equestrian comedian Joel Chacon who appeared again later in the day.

Last year, a show judge was brought in to advise judges Nicky Henderson and Robert Power on procedure and it was a pity that the same didn’t happen on Saturday.

While some horses stood rock solid in the random first line-up, others didn’t, a fact that would have been noted and penalised by a show judge.

This is a popular class with the crowd, many of whom filled in the public judging forms on Saturday, but it needs plenty of time in the ring and it has to be remembered that it is to showcase that horses have been retrained as useful and suitable riding horses and that it is first and foremost a showing class. Forpadydeplasterer has built up quite a following outside racing and was produced in excellent fettle on Saturday to become the first horse to win this class twice. The 13-year-old bay gelding by Moscow Society was bred by John Broderick out of the Deep Run mare Run Artiste.

Co Antrim bloodstock agent and former event rider Anna Ross, finished second on the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander while Philippa Baird was placed third with the well-behaved Amstecos.

Many onlookers were disappointed by the non-appearance of the eight-time Grade 1 winner Sizing Europe whose retirement from racing was announced in May.

Sadly, he suffered an injury in transit to the show and had to be withdrawn.