THE rings at Ballsbridge present a wonderful shop window for young horses and they attract buyers like a magnet. As British talent spotters turn out in force, it is hardly surprising to find many Dublin purchases finding their way on to the English circuit.

One such rising star is the 2014 Dublin supreme hunter champion Bloomfield Excelsior (Rex). Daphne Tierney’s Jack Of Diamonds four-year-old put up a stunning performance for Jane Bradbury last August and the grey heavyweight was snapped up by Alan Ross.

Now produced by Carol Bardo for the Shades of Grey Syndicate, headed by Alan Ross, Rex continues to improve under the expert guidance of Alan’s wife Jayne.

This season Rex has been champion at Keysoe, won his heavyweight divisions at Windsor and Bath and West and he was recently a winner and reserve at Great Yorkshire Show.

Another 2014 Dublin winner, Bloomfield Tetrarch, was also purchased from the same connections. This son of Aldatus Z, now owned by the Doctors Alan Ross and William Bardo, won his early novice classes before recently stepping up to qualify for the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

“I have judged at Dublin but it is nice to have time on your hands and sit and watch from the stands,” said Jayne.

It was perhaps having too much time on their hands that prompted Jayne and Carol Bardo to make their first Dublin purchase in 2005 when they saw the four-year-old Silverstream II take the heavyweight title and reserve supreme.

Silverstream’s most memorable victories were gained at the Royal International where he was a winner three times standing champion as a five-year-old when he was judged and well ridden by the late George Mernagh.

“Having bought one fantastic heavyweight grey from Dublin, I think sentiment took over when I saw Rex last year,” concluded Jayne.

Among the most loyal customers watching intently at Dublin are the Jerram family from Essex. Mike, Jill and their daughter Katie have had countless wins and championships from their many Dublin purchases.

Among the most notable is Dunbeacon, who went on to stand supreme ridden horse at both the Royal International Horse Show and Horse of the Year Show.

While the family had already expressed an interest in the son of Abdullah, his gallop in Dublin’s international arena persuaded them to clinch the deal with the late Michael Leonard.

Dunbeacon (known at home as DB) was champion lightweight and reserve supreme at Dublin in 2003 and he proved almost unbeatable on the British circuit as a lightweight and ladies hunter.

“Dublin does tend to light horses up a little and DB proved anxious at first, but he was a prolific galloper and there was hardly a major title he did not win,” said Katie, who also spotted Azarax (by Chacoa) competing at Ballsbridge with Jane Bradbury.

He was also champion lightweight and reserve supreme at Dublin (2006) and, like Dunbeacon, became equally at home being ridden astride or sidesaddle.

The Jerrams also bought the 2009 supreme champion Woodfield Indo (by Power Blade) from his breeder, owner and rider Rosemary Connors.

In a week of high drama for his owner and potential purchasers, the impressive bay was deliberately slashed in his stable before the championship but went on to take the coveted Dublin title in terrific style.

Other ridden horses purchased by the Jerram family include Countryman (by Jacksons Drift) and two sons of Kings Master - the heavyweight Clonaslee Master Diamond, bred by Marie Bracken, and Julia Crosby’s Kings Court.

“Although I am a huge fan of Kings Master, we tend to sit watching the horses mulling around in the collecting ring at Dublin hoping one will catch our eye,” explained Katie.

The Jerram family also study the in-hand classes and they have bought two rising stars, the first Assagart Master who was a three-year-old winner and Dublin reserve for John Roche.

The son of Kings Master landed running on the British circuit as he qualified for the HOYS Cuddy in hand championship a couple of weeks after his purchase.

Also on the shopping list was the now four-year-old Classic Choice (by Emperor Augustus).

While another huge supporter of Irish bred horses, Jill Day, prefers to buy her horses as foals, she watches Dublin’s young horse classes intently with Cheshire rider and producer Robert Walker.

Jill bought the 2008 Dublin supreme young horse Ballard Bouncer (by Ghareeb).

Bouncer was a regular RIHS and HOYS finalist and Windsor, Bramham and Stafford County were among his many championships. She also bought the 2011 supreme in hand champion Caesars Palace (by Emperor Augustus).

Caesar was unbeaten in six outings in his debut season under saddle when he stood four-year-old champion at the National Hunter Championships. His championships a year later include Windsor and Bramham and he claimed the supreme hunter title at HOYS last October.

“We love coming to Dublin and watching the young horses hoping at least one will stand out,” said Walker.

Scottish rider and producer Kirstine Douglas has also had many successes with her Ballsbridge purchases. Among them are two 2014 Dublin winners; the Kieran Ryan produced small hunter victor Hart Beat (by Le One) and the four-year-old champion and reserve supreme Annaghmore Huntsman (by OBOS Quality). P.J. Casey rode both horses.

This season Hart Beat is RIHS and HOYS-bound with his new owner Becky Patterson, while Kirstine recently claimed the Royal Highland hunter championship with Huntsman.

“Both horses travelled well and soon settled into the job over here,” said Kirstine, who also campaigned Dublin’s 2013 cob champion Johnny Long.

While talent spotters throng the ringsides at Ballsbridge, it appears not all buyers need to be at the show as Debbie Harrod made her first Dublin purchase from a photograph in Horse & Hound of the 2012 four-year-old champion and reserve supreme Redbridge Tiny Tim (by Montpelier Seaview).

Rider and producer Charles Le Moignan takes up the story: “Debbie absolutely loved his picture and she flew her daughter (Polly) myself and my wife Hilary over to see him and the deal was done there and then.”

One of the shrewdest buyers is perhaps David Tatlow, who once bought 11 horses at Dublin.

Included on his long list of purchases are the prolific winners Bunowen, Standing Ovation, Mr McEvoy, Sheer Delight, Bow River and the middleweight Zatopek, who first cemented Tatlow’s long time friendship with George Chapman.

Tatlow first saw his 2006 Horse of the Year Show hunter champion Imperator (by Caesar Emperator) competing at Dublin two years running.

“We tried to buy him as a four-year-old and finally managed it a year later,” said David’s daughter Loraine.

The formbook is already being studied, and the ‘scouts’ are out, so it will not be long before we find out how many horses will be crossing the Irish Sea at the conclusion of Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show 2015.