This is the first foal out of his former three-star ride, Shanaclough Clovertone.

“I don’t know if I’ll get to compete this fellow as I’m pushing on in years,” said the Co Limerick rider who, on Saturday, was recording his first Eventing Ireland success since June 2009 when he landed the O/CNC** at Calverstown with Shanaclough Clovertone.

The 1999 Clover Clon mare introduced her owner to the sport of eventing in March 2003 when they finished sixth in a sportsman class at Ballindenisk. “Before then, we were big into our hunting and breeding and I began to develop this family nearly 40 years ago,” revealed John.

“Clovertone is one of two sisters I’m breeding from and the second, Shanaclough Diamond Queen (by Coevers Diamond Boy), recently had a foal by Aldatus Z. I’m also breeding out of Shanaclough Diamond Drift, a Jackson’s Drift daughter of Diamond Queen, who is due to foal to Future Trend.”

Another mare carrying the breeder’s pre-fix is the Minister For Defence’s Shanaclough Crecora, an Aldatus Z half-sister to Clovertone and Diamond Queen who, under Captain Geoff Curran, finished fourth in the CCI*** at Tattersalls in 2012.