FOLLOWING last week’s win by an American-owned gelding of the Childèric Saddles four-year-old qualifier at the Stepping Stones to Success League, this Tuesday we learned that the unnamed winner at Wexford Equestrian is owned by Germany-based Turkish international event rider Kumru Say.

The Irish Sport Horse mare by Colorit, who scored on a total of 186.7 points, was bred by Fergal Hennessy out of Lislan Cruise (by Cruising). She was one of 15 lots consigned to last year’s Monart Sale by H&J Sport Horses. “I spotted the mare in the catalogue, told Kumru about her and she came over and bought the mare herself (for €16,500),” said Tuesday’s winning rider, Cathal Daniels.

“I broke her over the winter and now have her to produce with the plan being that Kumru will take over the ride down the road. She was very green, but that’s to be expected as all she has done is the couple of Stepping Stones days. Kumru, who represented Turkey at last year’s European eventing championships in Blenheim, will be over for Millstreet and will see this mare then, as we’ll take her to the Burghley young event horse qualifier.”

Thanks to recording the highest jumping score (131.8), Junior event rider Carla Williamson finished second with her mother Janet’s Diamant de Semilly gelding BMC Cornet Son (184.3) who, too, was consigned to last year’s Monart Sale by Henry and Joanne Foley. The Brian McClintock-bred bay ISH won an earlier round of the series when there were no points on offer. Diarmuid Ryan placed third on Olga Scully’s ISH mare Angels Candy (180), a daughter of Sligo Candy Boy.

In this 38-runner class, Mark Ruddock’s winner of the dressage phase on 62 points was Nicola Ennis with Gemma Quinn’s grey ISH mare Candy Pop, another by Sligo Candy Boy.

Five-year-olds

Ian Cassells, who has five rides at Ballindenisk this weekend, warmed up for the Co Cork international by partnering three horses at Tyrella last Saturday. One of these was the EI newcomer Point Up who, on Tuesday, claimed the Childèric Saddles five-year-old class having amassed 187.8 points. Her stable-companion, Springrove Rockstar, who has yet to make his EI debut, finished third on 180.5.

Bridget McGing’s home-bred ISH mare Point Up, who posted the highest jumping score (132.5), is by Upsilon. Her dam is the Pointilliste mare Diamond Pointe, who Cassells competed up to 3*-S level and is a half-sister to the Coroner gelding Inquisitor (CCI3*-L). Nuala McDonald and Bernadette Leahy’s ISH gelding Springrove Rockstar is by Rock ‘N’ Roll ter Putte out of a Cruising mare.

Emma Jackson wasn’t placed on any of the five four-year-olds she competed on Tuesday, but finished second and fourth from her three rides in the older division.

The higher-placed of the pair, Glasdrumman For Sure (182.7), is an ISH mare by Creevagh For Sure who is owned by dressage judge Corey Mawhinney and was bred by Jackson herself out of Bella B (by Amiro M). The ISH mare Lisnastrean (179.5), a brown daughter of Cormint, was home-bred by her owner Brian Clinghan out of Lisnaree (by Hermes de Reve).

Mark Ruddock awarded his highest dressage score in this 24-runner class, 62.5 points, to Nadia Sabot on board her own Mika Of Heritage, a Conthargos mare who is registered with the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland.

The winners of both young horse classes were presented with bridles worth €500 by sponsors Childèric Saddles.