MAXIMUM Numero Too HSH was guided to the top spot in last Saturday’s DAFM HSI Development Series for seven-year-olds in Cavan by his owner/rider Sven Hadley.

By Aganix Du Seigneur out of Couple Of Diamonds, by Numero Uno, the gelding was bred by Eamon McArdle and has been produced by Hadley. Just 12 of the 36 starters provided two fault-free rounds in the 1.30m two-phase, which carried a prize fund of €3,000.

Drawn midway through the running order, Hadley stopped the clock at 27.97 in round two to secure the win. Speaking about his mount, Hadley told The Irish Field: “I bought him here, actually, as a foal in the Cavan Elite Foal Sale. I remember he was quite small, so maybe didn’t catch everyone’s eye but I researched his breeding and discovered he was a very late foal and that would explain why he wasn’t so big.

“He ended up being quite cheap as a result. So that has really worked out well because he has turned into a really nice horse.

"He was a little bit spooky at the start, but then when he got the hang of things he became quite competitive.

“He won the Connacht Grand Prix league; he was second in the Leinster Grand Prix league. He won three or four of the HSI classes. He won the six-year-old final at this show last year. Whatever he does, he does well so you could go anywhere with him.”

Victoria Clarke made sure at least some of the prize money stayed on home soil, when she captured the runner-up spot aboard Cavan Equestrian’s mare Cherry Candy Girl. By Sligo Candy Boy out of Sterre, by Larino, the mare has just stepped up to 1.30m earlier this year. The pair recorded a time of 29.96 for second place.

Paddy O’Donnell rode his own home-bred gelding Kilfarissey Prince (Jorado x Clover Flush) into third in 31.23. Fourth went to Lucy O’Sullivan riding her own mare Csf Tamara (Tyson x Cruising) which was bred by Patrick Connolly and has been partnered by O’Sullivan since last year. They recorded a jump-off time of 33.17.

Junior Kayla Jebb and her mother Susan’s German-bred gelding Chaculo Ps (Chacoon Blue x Lawito) slotted into fifth in 33.40, while Isabel Fitzpatrick and Donal Milmo’s Penny’s Premier Lily (Premier Sport x Balou Du Rouet), bred by Premier Sport Horses, completed the line up in sixth.

Six-year-olds

Saturday’s DAFM HSI Development Series for six-year-olds was won by Sinead Brennan’s mare MHS Zenyatta with her son James Brennan in the saddle. By Ganesh Hero Z out of MHS With Pleasure (For Pleasure), she was bred and produced by the owners and has consistently placed in the top six at 1.30m level since the start of the autumn.

The standard of the competition was high with 19 of the 57 starters posting a double clear round over the 1.20m two-phase track. Going fairly late in the order, Brennan had an opportunity to see several horses go, formulating a plan which saw him record a time of 25.76 for the win and the lion’s share of the €2,500 prize fund.

Katie Nallon and Bob Sweeney’s mare Aganix Summer Tokyo Drift (Aganix Du Seigneur x Ladykiller De La Rubin), bred by Karen Mackenzie, took second place stopping the clock at 25.87.

Michael Ryan’s home-bred Rc Mr Querlybet (Querlybet Hero x Olympic Lux) was partnered into third place by Barry Griffin in 26.25. Sean Monaghan rode Aloga Stables’ home-bred gelding Champagne Bw (Chin Chin x Caretino) into fourth in 26.88.

Fifth place went to young rider Jack M Murphy aboard Valerie O’Reilly’s mare Moma VA (Diamant De Semilly x Clarimo), bred by Allworden Manfred Von Gronwohldhof, in 27.71. Zaid Ali Raad, riding Hibernia Horses Ltd’s Belgian-bred mare Toleen St (Cornet Obolensky), slotted into sixth in 28.19.