THE penultimate weekend of the TRM/ Showjumpers Club Spring Tour saw Max Foley put another win on the board in Hollypark last Friday. Riding HHS Savanna, the young rider lodged the winning round a time of 34.39 seconds in the 1.40m class.
The Carlow rider had previously claimed the rounds in Warrington aboard HHS Fortune and in Killossery aboard HHS Catwalk.
In this round, Foley also delivered a clear with HHS Fortune, albeit in a slower time of 39.28 for seventh place.
HHS Savanna is a nine-year-old by Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet out of the Don Juan De La Bouverie-sired dam HHS Central Park. The mare was previously campaigned by Mikey Pender and ended last year with a win in CSI3* in Vejer de la Frontera. The combination had already claimed mutliple placings in the league.
Speaking after the win, owner Marion Hughes said: “I am delighted for Max as he works so hard and is a great rider. He works well here with the team and he is very kind.
"He went well in America and McLain Ward really spotted his talent and encouraged him to go forward to the Young Rider Academy, where he is now.
"He works alongside Romana in the yard and as a team they have gelled really well.
“The mare has been ridden by Mikey and Molly and is a talented mare. She is out of HHS Central who was ridden by Sarah Crosbie. She is related to HHS Los Angeles on the damline so she is well-connected. We look forward to the season with them and hopefully there will be plenty more wins.”
Jump-off
Just 19 combinations contested this round and, from those, 12 proceeded to the jump-off. It was an extremely tight timed round with the top three all coming home within 35 seconds.
Fellow young rider Daisy McNamara claimed the runner-up spot with Caspetito Z when they were fractions behind with a clear round in a time of 34.52 seconds. Caspetito Z is a 12-year-old gelding by Cassio vh Sonnishof out of the Hors La Loi II mare Zaire. The day before, the combination claimed the Connolly’s Red Mills/Munster Region Summer Tour Horses 1.35m Grand Prix. In March they finished fourth in the Spring Tour in Maryville.
Junior rider Kian Dore partnered the seven-year-old Whs King Lincoln to a clear in 34.79 for third place. Owned by Michael Sullivan, the gelding is by Lincoln B and is out of the Lux Z-sired Wineport Angel. Dore took over the ride of this horse from Conor Fitzgerald last October and it was the partnership’s first Grand Prix.
Madeline Allen and her own Celah Sue De Rialfo Z kept all the poles in place in a time of 36.02 for fourth. This 14-year-old mare is by Coupe De Coeur out of the Caletto III-sired Olala.
Slotting into fifth place was Liam O’Meara and Cevanna when they came home with nothing to add in a time of 37.13. Owned by O’ Meara, the nine-year-old gelding is by Cevin Z and is out of Bellini (Kannan).
Completing the top six was Aoife McCabe aboard her own Heritage Enigma when she put in a foot-perfect round in a time of 38.20. Bred by Anne-Marie O’Gorman, the 10-year-old mare is by Eldorado van de zeshoek out of the Canturo-sired dam Claudi.
Last of the double clears was Gemma Phelan riding Baden Powell’s Curraghraigue Jack Bro in a time of 39.54 for eighth. Bred by his owner, this nine-year-old gelding is by Orestus and is out of Curraghgraigue Errigal (Errigal Flight).
1.30m
Winner of the 1.30m class at the Co Limerick venue was Gemma Phelan aboard the seven-year-old GRC Casper, when they came home clear in 33.22. Owned and bred by Rory Costigan, the gelding is by Sandokan 290 and out of GRC Sunrise (Luidam).
Junior rider Meg Twomey and Lucy Le One took the runner-up spot when clear in 34.24, while Liam O’Meara secured third place with the M and P Coffey-owned six-year-old Oldtown Presley when they lodged a clear in 34.32.
Max Foley partnered the seven-year-old HHS Kingston to a clear in 38.03 for fourth place.
A clear from Diarmuid Killeen and the eight-year-old Clooncalagy Legend in a time of 39.87 saw them secure fifth place, ahead of young rider Sarah Fitzgerald and the six-year-old Francine, who was clear in 41.88.
1.20m
The 1.20m attracted the largest following with 28 going to post. Claiming this victory was amateur rider Lorraine Younge [AA] and Belfieldflight, clear in 36.95.
Jamie Landers and SHW Candies Diamond claimed the runner-up spot when clear in 37.88, while in third was young rider, Jack Moloney and the seven-year-old Lahorna Princess, clear in 37.89. A clear from Helen Gould and Khaleeshi in 38.38 saw her take fourth place, ahead of junior rider Mark Neilan aboard Noel Elliott’s Naira Yc, clear in 38.47.
Gemma Phelan added to her haul as she claimed sixth place with Rory Costigan’s seven-year-old home-bred GRC Mercedes.