THE last of five qualifiers for the Star of the Future performance horse championship at Balmoral Show (May 13th to 16th) was hosted at Lusk Equestrian Centre, Lisburn on Sunday afternoon by Jenny and Harold Lusk, who ran three Derby classes beforehand.

Considering their position in the series, the organisers were pleased enough with the entry for the qualifying classes, which were judged in lovely weather conditions by former Olympic event rider Margaret Creighton and Switzerland-born horseman/producer Marcus Buser.

The pair were obviously impressed with the five-year-old section winner, awarding the Lesley Jones-ridden Claudie The Dandy (Centre Stage - Kief Queen B, by Munther) a score of 81 marks. Owned and bred by Yvonne Pearson out of a top showing mare, the Irish Sport Horse mare was reserve champion small hunter at Balmoral last May, winning the Pearl Creighton trophy as the top home-bred exhibit, and has a few Show Jumping Ireland points to her credit. The plan is to event her this season.

Two combinations completed on 68 points apiece with, on countback, the second qualifying ticket going to Christopher Connell on the Eamon Kenny-bred ISH gelding Ballykealy Bobby (Jorado - Ballykealy Anna, by Cobra), who picked up nine SJI points over six outings last year. Jonny Mulligan had to settle for third with his father Robert’s ISH gelding Templeforde Lucca (Lucarelli - Tynan Orchid, by Parco).

While he has cut down on the number of breakers he is taking in and on the number of animals he is producing for these young horse classes, Mulligan has still got plenty of horses at home, but his evenings are now often spent working at his father’s restaurant, The Vault, in Banbridge. “I’ll take this fellow to Balmoral, but I’m not committing to the Dublin qualifiers as he is on the market,” said the rider.

https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/IF_JLaing_ShannaghmoreCloudNine.jpg.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Djackson%2520laing

Jackson Laing and Shannaghmore Cloud Nine won the six and seven-year-old Balmoral Star of the Future qualifier at Lusks \ Anne Hughes

Three clear rounds

Eleven combinations started in the six and seven-year-old class, all of whom completed but only three without jumping penalties and this trio secured the last of the qualifying tickets.

The comfortable winner on 72 marks was the ISH mare Shannaghmore Cloud Nine (Womanizer - Quality Dame, by OBOS Quality 004), who was ridden by Jackson Laing for owner Cheryl Smyth. The six-year-old, who was bred by Sean Jones, is a half-sister to the former top show horse View Point, a 2011 gelding by Loughehoe Guy.

“This mare was slowly and carefully produced as a four and five-year-old, not being asked to do too much or being pushed to jump the age classes,” revealed Laing. “I’ve ridden for Cheryl for years and have been lucky to ride ‘Cloud’ the odd time throughout the past two years. In December, the reins were handed to me and Cloud was given to me on sales livery after a long winter.

“After about a month’s riding, we took her to The Meadows and she really wowed us with her scope and bravery; it was then decided that we would keep her to produce for competition. Since, she has very quickly stepped up from 90cm/1m to jumping round six-year-old show jumping tracks like she’s been doing it her whole life. We plan to aim her towards the six-year-old jumping at Dublin this season and will hopefully head to the Sunshine Tour at the start of next year!

“I’m currently looking for a sponsor to potentially help cover the costs of international competitions, as we’re planning to travel around Europe with a team of horses both for show jumping and eventing. I also have a big team of 11 horses heading to Balmoral Show, so I think it would be a great opportunity for someone to support a developing string and be part of that journey.”

Emma Jackson bagged herself another qualifying ticket when finishing second (67 marks) with the Roy Shields-owned and bred seven-year-old mare Rockrimmon Legacy (Rockrimmon Senator - Rockrimmon Flying Solo, by Sir Shutterfly). The third ticket on 65 marks went to Jonny Steele riding Pauline Faloon’s Punch Lion (Herald 3 - Carola Lion, by Ard VDL Douglas. On Saturday, Steele and the Grace Kelly-bred six-year-old ISH gelding finished ninth in one of the EI100 classes at Tyrella.