THE fifth round of the DAFM Studbook Series continued last weekend at Maryville Stables. With the show calendar in full swing and many shows taking place over the weekend, the entries were down compared to other rounds, with just under 100 horses competing over the three age groups.
Twenty-one of the 38 starters jumped a double clear in the five-year-olds to divide the prize money on offer (see result page for double clears). One of the double clears in the section was Robyn Moran riding her own Fortside Exhibition (ISH), which has now put the combination comfortably at the top of the leaderboard.
In the six-year-old class, half of the 40 starters completed with a double clear, with 20 dividing the prize fund. Topping the six-year-old leaderboard on 22 points is young rider Coen Williams and Grand Amour KPCM on 22 points. He is also in joint second with WSH Kann Turano, along with Shane Kenny and Killahurler Lady Syble on 16 points.
The seven-year-old league has been tight at the top with Williams and Foley battling it out, but after adding three points to their tally, Williams and Parc Violeta (ISH) have now taken the lead. The winner on the day was Gemma Phelan riding Lance Corporal (ISH), when they were the fastest of three double clears in 28.30. This win was enough to slot them into third place in the league. Owned by Beechfield Stables Ltd and Kellistown Stud, the gelding was bred by Louise Thompson and is by Corporal VDL and is out of the Jai Ho-sired dam, Lv-Firefly. Young rider Timmy Brennan and GCS Apollo were just over a second behind in 29.31 for second place. Tadhg Beecher was last of the double clears aboard Tim Beecher’s Lux Like Gold, in 29.33 for third.
Tim Macdonagh and Ushi Ffa Z kept all the poles in place, but a single time fault in 62.33 saw them take fourth, ahead of Coen Williams and Parc Violeta, who also had a time fault, when clocking 63.59. Junior rider, Isobel Sheehan and Teddy Stardust, also fell victim to the clock, picking up a single time fault (66.56) for sixth.
Coen Williams is certainly making his mark on the series with four horses in contention for the league title across the three age groups. He has now moved to the top of the leaderboard in both the six-year-old and seven-year-old leagues with Grand Amour KPCM (ISH) and Parc Violeta (ISH) respectively, after both horses put in good performances in Maryville.
The next round of the series will be held in Glenamaddy on July 11th, ahead of the final at Mullingar in August.
Mini Grand Prix
Niamh McEvoy took the win in the 1.30m Mini Grand Prix, when she partnered the Keith Ennis-owned Rosconnell Tango to a clear in 30.09 seconds. This seven-year-old gelding, which was bred by Mairead Lacey, is by Tyson and out of the Goodluck-sired dam, CSF Sophie. This pairing qualified for the Dublin Horse Show at the Meadows, when finishing fourth.
She was chased home by Madeline Allen and Daroento VDL, who kept all the poles in place in 30.20 for second place. A clear from Anthony O’Regan and Chad in 31.30 saw him take third, while in fourth was Junior rider Lauren Adams and Hilton Sm Z, clear in 37.34. McEvoy returned to take fifth with Jasmim D Ariel, when she had one on the ground in 33.16.
Taking sixth was Jamie Landers and Nigel Blue H, finishing on four faults in 39.39.