BARBARA Hatton was back at Slyguff Stud this week after a flying visit to the Carolina International horse trials, where there were several horses by the Carlow stud stallions in action.

Cambalda, by their late thoroughbred sire Balda Beau, may have heard about the Irish visitors there in attendance to support Kylie Lyman as the veteran finished in third place in a strong CIC*** divison with Jennie Brannigan.

There were also several Master Imp progeny in action over the weekend, including Da Vinci Code, who finished ninth in the same class with Kylie.

Birthday girl

BELATED birthday greetings to Calendar Girl’s owner Paula Cullen, who will be counting down the days to Badminton Horse Trials where “Cally”s Touchdown daughter Paulank Brockagh is amongst this year’s entries.

“Calendar Girl has served us well and now that she is 26 years young, deserves her retirement but remains the matriarch of our breeding programme. In addition to her two offspring that we have retained for breeding, she has a six-year-old Paulank Callowking, by Kings Master, competing at junior level with Ciara Dennigan and a four-year-old gelding by Pointilliste that is for sale. Our Cruising Arish filly out of Calendar Girl will remain here with us.”

Paula and her husband Frank have two Jumbo youngsters out of Paulank Calla Lilly, the Ghareeb half-sister to their famous Badminton and Rio bronze medal winner relative. “Lilly’s first foal by Jumbo is now a three-year-old filly and we’ve also retained her two-year-old colt, while their yearling full sister had been sold to the US.”