THE Irish Sport Horse (ISH) studbook came so close to matching its best result in recent World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) rankings. That occured in 2023, when the ISH studbook finished first and sixth in eventing and show jumping respectively.
The highlights of the 2026 rankings, released last week, have to be the performances of HSH Blake and James Kann Cruz (the WBFSH’s leading eventing and second-ranked show jumping horses). Their Galwegian breeders - Justin Burke and Patrick Connolly - match those results in the breeders’ rankings.
Justin (this week’s Breeders’ 10 feature, page 85) will receive his Longines WBFSH Breeders’ Prize at the Longines CHI Classics Basel (January 7th-10th), alongside Stephan Kurz and Timm Peters, the other top-ranked breeders.
For years, one of the Irish Sport Horse studbook’s main bragging rights was its domination in eventing. That market has tightened up considerably and several other WBFSH member studbooks - its Selle Français, Hannoverian and Holsteiner constant rivals - have successfully wrestled the ISH for the title.
The Holsteiner Verband was bidding to retain the eventing studbook title for a third year, holding the lead (1,372 points) over the ISH (1,221) and Hannoverian (1,017) in the penultimate August rankings.
Burghley CCI5*-L swung the title in the ISH direction after four Irish Sport Horses finished in the top 10: HSH Blake, fourth-placed Hawk Eye (Breeder: R.J Smyth), Very Dignified (Deirdre Bowler) and Cavalier Crystal (Thomas Horgan).
The Holsteiner, Diabolo had done much of the heavy lifting for the German studbook, but HSH Blake’s third place was just enough for him to overtake Will Coleman’s horse after the penultimate rankings and to secure another WBFSH title for the Irish studbook.
Likewise, it was a tight finish amongst show jumping horses. Another US rider - Kristen Vanderveen - and Bull Run’s Jireh (1,821 points) just held off the challenge of James Kann Cruz (1,778), Impress-K Van’t Kattenheye Z (1,757) and Otello de Guldenboom (1,751).
It takes a team to win a studbook title and the collective points of a dozen Irish-breds: HSH Blake, Cooley Park Muze, Cooley Nutcracker, Brookfield Quality, Tullabeg Platinum and Shanroe Cooley (eventing), plus James Kann Cruz, Clonterm Obolensky, My Clementine, BH Gringos Legacy and the Ennisnag-bred pair of ESI Rocky and ESI Ali (show jumping) ensured the ISH studbook held its own amongst the top-10 studbooks in this year’s WBFSH rankings.
See www.wbfsh.com for the complete rankings.
BEHIND every successful horse is the breeder and, most likely, 11 different backstories countrywide of Anthony Smyth, Nicholas Cousins, Sean Kelly, Gary Doherty, John Connolly, Justin Burke, the Hughes family at Ennisnag Stud, Kieran Phelan, Brian Duff, David Prentice and Patrick Connolly.
Last week, Connolly’s M17 neighbour Justin Burke spoke about the western ‘smallholders’ pair, who are Ireland’s leading breeders in the WBFSH rankings. Just over the proverbial road in Glenamaddy, Carling King was bred by the late Dr Pat Geraghty, another WBFSH top-ranked Irish breeder.
“When we were going to [vet] Philip McManus back over the years, Justin would be there with mares. [Son] Shane does [farriery] work up there [Galwaybay Stud] as well,” said Patrick, who is still taking in the WBFSH news.
“It’s hard to believe! You’d be dumbfounded, really. We never thought we’d have a horse that would do so much for us.”
For Shane Sweetnam, who has competed James Kann Cruz, or Gizmo, for the past five years, Patrick’s WBFSH result is a well-deserved one.
“It’s a great achievement for Gizmo too and just shows how consistent he is. Every year, he’s up there in the rankings and obviously for the Connollys to be recognised, it’s amazing,” the Corkman, currently ranked third in the FEI rider rankings, told the Irish Horse World.
“I’d love if they [the Connollys] had won, you’d get even more of a buzz out of that, but it just shows what kind of job they do and the pride they take in their breeding programme. They’re always following Gizmo, his plan is hopefully Geneva and then he’ll get a break after a busy enough year. So, congrats to them.”
The Connolly family with their ‘queen’: CSF Telly Cruz, James Kann Cruz’s dam. The family have Cardento, Chacco Blue and Emerald frozen embryos from the Cruising mare \ Susan Finnerty
“Shane’s a very nice fellow and sent a congratulations text when he heard the news,” said Patrick, a silage contractor, who keeps his broodmare and youngstock herd on the family’s 57-acre farm in Cummer.
James Kann Cruz has ticked many boxes, including the dream of so many Irish breeders by jumping on home ground in the Aga Khan Nations Cup.
Maybe it’s the relatable backstory of an Irish farmer-breeder or Gizmo’s ‘Irish’ appearance that has helped his fanbase.
“The amount of people that have sent texts since the news about the world rankings,” said Patrick’s wife Dolly, who also takes care of the farm bookwork.
“Some people wouldn’t even know James Kann Cruz, but they’re just delighted for you. I think for a lot of people, it’s the fact that it’s the west of Ireland and they know the work the lads put into it.
“The journey we’ve been on since Telly Cruz [one of the Connolly’s foundation broodmares and Gizmo’s granddam], the people we’ve met along the way and the ripple effect from Shane and James’ success. We’re very grateful for it all,” added Dolly.
Not that the down-to-earth couple take it for granted. “Oh, it does not happen overnight. It’s a long, long road. There’s lots of great days and lots of disappointing days. Every breeder will have them kind of days; the very good ones and the day you go out in the yard and you find disaster. We’ve all been there.
“Look, we were talking about small money when we started breeding first. I remember going to local sales with a couple of filly foals and you’d be glad to sell them for 300, 400, 500 pounds. If you’d told me all this then... never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d breed a horse that jumped in the Olympics, the world championships and, please God, qualify for the next Olympics. He’s a horse of a lifetime.”
Shane’s brother Brian also bred another 2026 World Championships horse in CSF Whipper Snapper. When the Sawdoctors wrote their famous ‘N17’ anthem, who could have predicted that unique family double or a rankings bonanza for two Galwegians?
Top ISH in WBFSH rankings 2004-2026
Eventing
2004 - Ballincoola (TIH). (Seventh. Sire: Highland King. Breeder: Pat Keogh).
2005 - Ben Along Time (Sixth. Cavalier Royale. James Jameson).
2006 - Ringwood Cockatoo (TIH) (First. Peacock. Hilary Greer).
2007 - McKinlaigh (TIH) (Third. Highland King. Yvonne Walsh).
2008 - Ben Along Time (Second).
2009 - Ringwood Cockatoo (Ninth).
2010 - Mandiba (TIH) (Third. Master Imp. William Micklem).
2011 - Lenamore (TIH) (16th. Sea Crest. Helen Walsh).
2012 - Mr Medicott (TIH) (First. Cruising. Dr Donal Geaney).
2013 - Mr Cruise Control (TIH) (Sixth. Cruising. Jenny McCann Bubani).
2014 - Kilronan (TIH) (Ninth. Ghareeb. Pat Fenlon).
2015 - Cambalda (TIH) (Ninth. Balda Beau. John Irish).
2016 - Mighty Nice (Second. Ard Ohio. William Kells).
2017 - Cooley Cross Border (Eighth. Diamond Roller. Johnny Duffy).
2018 - Horseware Stellor Rebound (11th. VDL Ricochet. Rhona Barnwall).
2019 - Ballaghmor Class (Third. Courage II. Noel Hickey).
2020 - Horseware Woodcourt Garrison (10th. Garrison Royal. Patrick J Kearns).
2021 - Brookfield Innocent (Fourth. Inocent. John Mulvey).
2022 - Off The Record (Fifth. VDL Arkansas. Peter G Brady)
2023 - Ballaghmor Class (Second).
2024 - Cooley Rosalent (Fifth. Valent. Woods Rosbotham).
2025 - Brookfield Quality (Third. OBOS Quality 004. Sean Kelly).
2026 - HSH Blake (First. Tolan R. Justin Burke).
Show Jumping
2004 - Carling King (TIH) (19th. Clover Hill. Dr Pat Geraghty).
2005 - McGuinness (38th. Cavalier Royale. Josephine Jordan).
2006 - McGuinness (43rd).
2007 - Mo Chroi (TIH) (26th. Cruising. Claire McDonnell).
2008 - Flexible (TIH) (48th. Cruising. Catherine Doyle).
2009 - Flexible (38th).
2010 - Flexible (14th).
2011 - Flexible (27th).
2012 - Flexible (Sixth).
2013 - Castlefield Eclipse (76th. OBOS Quality 004. Sarah Nihill).
2014 - Castlefield Eclipse (25th).
2015 - Castlefield Eclipse (71st).
2016 - Limestone Grey (57th. Try Time. David Moran).
2017 - Limestone Grey (76th).
2018 - Luibanta BH (99th. Luidam. Justin Burke).
2019 - Loughnavatta Indigo (154th. Luidam. Rory Costigan).
2020 - Luibanta BH (84th).
2021 - Pacino Amiro (61st. Pacino. Simon Scott).
2022 - James Kann Cruz (37th. Kannan. Patrick Connolly).
2023 - Pacino Amiro (Fourth).
2024 - James Kann Cruz (Sixth).
2025 - My Clementine (13th. OBOS Quality 004. David Prentice).
2026 - James Kann Cruz (Second).
Top ISH show jumping horses 2026
Second - James Kann Cruz (Kannan (KWPN) - CSF Telly Cruz (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]). Breeder: Patrick Connolly. Rider: Shane Sweetnam (IRL).
22nd - Clonterm Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky (BWP) - She Has The Lux (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN)). Breeder: Brian Duff. Rider: Conor Swail (IRL).
37th - My Clementine (OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) - Qualisca De Vansichant (sBs), by Kashmir van Schuttershof (sBs)). Breeder: David Prentice. Rider: Nina Mallavaey (FRA).
50th - BH Gringos Legacy (Bennys Legacy (OLD) - Gringos Colourfield (ISH) by Colourfield (TB)). Breeder: Kieran Phelan. Rider: Guy Williams (GB).
81st - ESI Rocky (Stakkato Gold (HANN) - Clonsaslea (BWP), by For Pleasure (HANN)). Breeder: Ennisnag Stud. Rider: Anastasia Nielsen (MCO).
153rd - ESI Ali (Stakkato Gold (HANN) - Adelheid (KWPN), by Tygo (KWPN)). Breeder: Ennisnag Stud. Rider: Nayel Nassar (EGY).
Top ISH eventing horses 2026
First - HSH Blake (Tolan R (KWPN) - Doughiska Lass (ISH), by Kannan (KWPN)). Breeder: Justin Burke. Rider: Caroline Pamukcu (USA).
Seventh - Cooley Park Muze (Pollux de Muze (ZANG) - TJM L’Arc In The Park (ISH), by L’Arc de Triomphe (OLD)). Breeder: John Connolly. Rider: Gemma Stevens (GB).
10th - Cooley Nutcracker (Tolan R (KWPN) - Ballyshan Cleopatra (ISH) by Cobra (HOLST)). Breeder: Gary Doherty. Rider: Boyd Martin (USA).
16th - Brookfield Quality (OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) - Bay Coffey Cavalier (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST)). Breeder: Sean Kelly. Rider: Tom McEwen (GB).
17th - Tullabeg Platinum (Dignified van’t Zorgvliet (BWP) - Tullabeg Hero (ISH), by Cult Hero (TB)). Breeder: Nicholas Cousins. Rider: Julia Krajewski (GER).
18th - Shanroe Cooley (Dallas VDL (BWP) - Shanroe Sapphire (ISH) by Condios (HOLST)). Breeder: Anthony Smyth. Rider: Boyd Martin (USA).
21,511 - the KWPN’s top combined score across all three sports by one studbook in the 2026 WBFSH rankings.
81 - points separated the ISH and Holsteiner eventing studbooks in the final result.
43 - points between Bull Run’s Jireh and James Kann Cruz.
6 - ISH in the eventing horses top 20.
5 - Flexible’s unrivalled run as the top-ranked ISH show jumping horse in the WBFSH rankings.
4 - years in a row that the Selle Français studbook has topped the show jumping leaderboard.
3 - times James Kann Cruz is the leading ISH show jumping horse in the WBFSH rankings and his breeder is the third Galwayman to be the leading ISH show jumping breeder. The late Dr Pat Geraghty (2004) and Justin Burke (2018, 2020) complete the trio.
2 - Justin is also the only one to have featured as the top-ranked Irish breeder in both eventing and show jumping after HSH Blake finished just two points ahead of longtime leader, Diabolo. His sire Tolan R has the unique record of two top-10 eventing horses this year.
1 - more title for the ISH eventing studbook.