WITH the Connemara and Irish Draught breeds already having established performance classes, it was only a matter of time for the thoroughbreds to follow suit. The track prepared for the Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier at Tattersalls, was utilised on the Saturday afternoon to host the inaugural Treo Eile Thoroughbred Performance Classes. Kindly sponsored by Agria Equine Insurance, the classes were divided into two grades; Intermediate (90cm) and Open (1m). Before the competition got underway, Treo Eile hosted afternoon tea for all competitors and their support teams to mark the occasion.

Seventeen combinations came before judge Denise Norton, for the flatwork and jumping phases, before presenting to Sarah Collen judging the phase three suitability and type. The class format, while new to many competitors, was well received, with the natural elements of the combined show jump and cross-country track being influential in the results.

Bernadette Curry made a profitable journey from Armagh, taking the win in the Intermediate section with Teo’s Chance after a foot-perfect round of jumping. Curry was thrilled with the unraced Teofilo gelding, a previous winner of the 2024 Treo Eile Show jumping League.

“This is his first major outing this year and so I am thrilled with the result today. The format of the class sets us up nicely to return eventing in the second half of the season.”

The intermediate thoroughbred performance class winner at Tattersalls was Bernadette Curry with Teo’s Chance \ Catherine McConville jumpinaction.net 2025

The Maxios gelding Fortunate Max, previously trained by Tony Mullins, and young rider Tekka Whelan stood second, with Cathal Daniels and the ex-point-to-pointer Selkie third.

More used to standing by a sales ring rather than a competition arena, Eamonn Phelan could not conceal his proud smile watching daughter Aine win the Open class on the home-bred Madame. It was the second win of the day for Phelan and the six-year-old Kodi Bear mare, who had also taken the red in the Treo Eile Thoroughbred Working Hunter class earlier in the morning.

The mare has been a family affair as Aine explained: “I broke and pretrained her prior to her two years in training with Johnny Murtagh. When it was decided that racing was not her game, I took on the retraining process. I competed at the Stepping Stones to Success league in the Spring and my aim now is the Treo Eile three-day Challenge at the Ballindenisk International at the end of September. It is early mornings and late nights to combine the horses with my day job as a radiographer, but on days like this, it is worth it!”

A regular on the amateur eventing scene Rachael O’Callaghan, with the 15-time raced Justbecool, was 3.5 points adrift in second. The yellow rosette went to local rider Rebecca McIntyre and Chubi Chekker, previously trained by Keith Clarke.