THE finals of the 2025 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine/Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series took place last weekend at the National Balmoral Championships with exciting jump-offs deciding the overall league titles.
The five-year-old final took centre stage early on Sunday morning with the top 25 combinations from Saturday’s qualifier battling it out. Shane Dalton and Ennisnag’s Unicum-H (BWP) narrowly missed out on Sunday’s final, when finishing outside the top 25, which left the door open for Robyn Moran and Kilbrackan Stakatto (ISH) to claim overall title.
With the combination answering all the questions in the final round in a time of 37.05 to finish fourth, it was enough to take the title on a total of 24 points, ahead of Dalton on 20 points. Kilbrackan Stakatto (Stakkato Gold x Elvis Ter Putte) was bred by Donal Cadden in Co Leitrim.
Claiming victory in the class was Harry Wood and Boleybawn Alexa (ISH) when fastest of eight double clears in 33.68. Bred by Boleybawn Horses, this mare is by Grandorado TN out of Arina by Crown Z.
Leah Stack was less than a second behind with Ali Nilforushan’s DCS Ballypatrick in a time of 34.11 for second place. Third place belonged to Shane Kenny and Darragh Killoran’s Killahurler Lady Syble in a time of 34.63. Fifth place belonged to Catherine Thornton and Millonix when they crossed the line in 37.75
Max Foley added to his impressive record when claiming the league Young Rider title. Foley managed foot perfect rounds on the Marion Hughes-owned and bred five-year-old HHS Colorado (ISH) and six-year-old HHS Lexington (ISH).
Six-year-olds
The battle for the six-year-old title went down to the wire when Emer Kavanagh and MMS Alexa (ISH), who were top of the leaderboard, failed to make the jump-off. With Tholm Keane requiring a clear round with Galwaybay Winningmood to move into pole position, he could not deliver and a pole down in the first round on Sunday saw the title go to Emer Kavanagh and MMS Alexa (ISH). Kavanagh took the title on 19 points, followed closely by Leah Stack (BP Emerald) and Tholm Keane (Galwaybay Winingmood) on 18 points.
Bred by Mary McShane in Co Monaghan, MMS Alexa is by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve out of MMS Camilla, by Camiro De Haar Z.
Speaking after the win, winning breeder Mary Mc Shane said: “Her mother MMS Camilla jumped the Studbook Series as a young horse too. She qualified for Dublin every year until she was seven. She had a great record; she jumped to 1.45m. I still have the granddam, she jumped to 1.40m. The Kavanagh’s bought MMS Alexa as a foal at the Irish Breeder’s Classic. I think it’s a great series, it’s good for putting mileage on horses, the shows are in good locations, good arenas and lots of good jumping. It’s a great start for a horse if you have one good enough. I’m a very proud breeder.”
Following his win in the Grand Prix, Jack Ryan add to his takings as he took the final win aboard the Donal and David Lynch-owned Belgian-bred mare Thera Van Heiste (BWP) when they came home clear in 40.84.
Fellow Kilkenny rider Vincent Byrne and the Maddie Brennan and Rachel Moxham-owned Bella Mai took the runner-up spot with a clear in 42.53. A clear from Gemma Phelan and the Suma Stud-owned Sumas Lumen in 43.01 saw them secure third place. Slotting into fourth place was Emma O’Dwyer and Ardragh Celtic Breeze, when they kept all the poles in place in 43.94.
Conor Hayes and Gailes Dream Girl (ISH) took the League Young Rider award, with a series of good results through the course of the league.
Seven-year-olds
It was a good day for Waterford’s Gemma Phelan as she claimed the overall seven-year-old league aboard the Rory Costigan-owned and bred GRC Mercedes (ISH) after she secured a second-place finish with the mare when clear in 39.87 seconds. The combination took the win after clocking up 17 points, ahead of Shane Dalton and ESI Julius on 14 points
Not content with the title she went on to claim fourth with Hilda Anthony’s My Private Dancer (ISH), when clear in 41.65 and eighth with Rory Costigan’s GRC Casper (ISH) when finishing on eight faults.
GRC Mercedes (ISH) is a mare by Luidam out of Loughnavatta Osprey (Chacco Blue). Winning breeder and owner Rory Costigan commented: “It was great to win with another Luidam, I’m a big fan of him as a sire. I bred from Mercedes’ great granddam and I’m breeding from her full-sister at the moment; I have a nice four-year-old out of her. It’s a brilliant series and I hope to do it again with some of the youngsters coming through and be as successful as this year. I want to thank Gemma; she is a brilliant rider and gets a great read of the horses.”
Claiming the final win was Mikey Pender with HHS Venice, when they lodged the winning round in 39.87. Bred by Bravo Hughes, HHS Venice is a mare by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of HHS Fairy Fort, by Heritage Fortunus.
A clear from Max Foley and HHS Arezzo in 40.48 saw them take third place and along with this, the silver European medallist claimed the Leading Young Rider title in league.
Lucy Gibson and Lady Catoki claimed fifth place, when they kept all the poles in place, when clear in 45.53. Young rider James Brennan put in a very fast time with MHS November Rain, stopping the clock in 41.91, but four faults saw them take sixth place.