PHENOMENE Bleu VDM was partnered to victory by Sven Hadley in last Saturday’s €4,000 Gain/Alltech 1.40m National Autumn Grand Prix in Sceilig, Co Cork.

By Diamant De Semilly out of Nuance Bleue Vdm (Nabab De Reve), the Belgian stallion proved best of the 34 starters as the fastest of the three double clears in the €4,000 class.

Speaking to The Irish Field after the win, Hadley said; “I think we made up a bit of time back to the last fence, as well as back to number nine. They were both oxers and my horse has a lot of scope, so I could turn tight back to both fences.

“I think it was a fair track, as it always is with John (Doyle). We are very lucky to have such talented course designers in Ireland.

“We are just back from competing abroad for the past couple of weeks. He finished fifth in the six-bar in HOYS in Birmingham, and then finished third and fourth in two 1.45m classes in Dunkirk in France. I’m going to Bahrain soon for a couple of weeks to ride for someone out there, but we will do the Sunday in Cavan.”

On the 10-year-old stallion, Hadley added: “He has been a bit quiet with the breeding this year; I think people use him and then wait a few years to see what they get, and then hopefully will come back to him.

“The oldest of his progeny here in Ireland is three years old this year. He has quite a few four-year-olds in Sweden that look good; he stood there as a four-year-old, he was in Belgium as a three-year-old. He has a great temperament. You can use him and then go and compete with him the next day, I don’t think there are many stallions like that.”

Win from the front

Leading from the front, Hadley and his own stallion provided the first double clear when they left all the poles in place as first to go in the eight-way decider in a time of 33.44.

Next in was Paddy O’Donnell riding Alberta Capital Limited’s eight-year-old gelding Castleconnell Candy Man (Sligo Candy Boy x Mermus R), bred by Greg Clohessy. They were unlucky to have one fence on the ground for four faults in 37.62, which kept them just inside the money in sixth place.

Gemma Phelan and Baden Powell’s home-bred Curraghraigue Jack Bro (Orestus x Errigal Flight) managed to leave all the fences intact, but were just slightly off the mark in 33.73 for the eventual runner-up spot.

Helen Sheridan’s stallion Big Dan Rouet (Querlybet Hero x Harlequin Du Carel), bred by Michael Ryan and ridden by Liam O’Meara, had two down in 36.79. Commandant Geoff Curran and the Minister for Defence’s gelding Hawthorn Hill (Cardento x Limmerick), bred by Jerry Quinn, also had a single fence down - theirs coming in 34.81, which was good enough for fifth place.

Michael O’Sullivan’s home-bred gelding, the seven-year-old WHS King Lincoln (Mr Lincoln B x Lux Z), was guided to the fastest round of the day in 32.72 by junior rider Kian Dore, but with one fence down they had to settle for fourth place.

Emily Moloney and her Junior European gold medal-winning mount Temple Alice (Foxglen Cruise Control x Rantis Diamond), owned by Eddie Moloney and TSI Equestrian, had one on the ground in 41.85 as second last to go.

The final pair to go, Billy Sinnott riding Julie Sinnott’s Dutch-bred eight-year-old gelding Macgyver (Golden Dream x Libero H), posted the third double clear of the competition in 36.78, which would put them into third place in the final line out.

The next round of the Autumn Grand Prix league takes place in Wexford on November 1st.

Moloney win

Cruising On The Ridge and Emily Moloney captured the win in the €2,000 Gain/Alltech 1.20m class for owner/breeder Ian Smyth at the Co Cork venue.

Cruising On The Ridge and Emily Moloney won the €2,000 Gain/Alltech 1.20m at Sceilig Equestrian \ Radka Preislerova

By Kannan out of Capitol Cruise (Ard Vdl Douglas), the duo proved best in a competitive two-phase class, which saw 53 go to post. A total of 33 produced a first-round clear, and 22 of those managed to keep a clean sheet through the second phase.

Moloney was the fastest of these, stopping the clock at 27.05 for the win. Ashleigh McNamara and Conor McNamara’s Innislusky Rose came closest to catching them when breaking the beams in 27.31 for second place.

Sean Dooley rode Fergus Dooley’s Indie Girl (Ballintogher Leo x Quabri De Laleu), bred by John Joe Collier, into third place in 27.35.

Fourth went to Sven Hadley aboard his own seven-year-old Maximum Numero Too HSH (Aganix Du Seigneur x Numero Uno), bred by Eamon McArdle. They stopped the clock at 27.69. Hadley also claimed fifth with his own home-bred HSH Harper Du Seigneur (Aganix Du Seigneur x Chippison) in 28.10.

Felicity Ward and her own five-star event horse Regal Bounty (Vdl Orestus x Senang Hati) completed the line up in sixth place in 28.40.