THE Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile showing pathway series final took place on a warm and sunny afternoon at the Iverk Show. Since May, combinations have journeyed across Ireland in pursuit of a place in this prestigious final. With over €2,000 in prize money up for grabs, anticipation was high leading up to the event.

The unfortunate cancellation of the final qualifier at Castleblayney Show earlier in the month was disappointing but it did not detract from the standard of horses that qualified in the series. The show, based just outside Pilltown, had a beautiful backdrop with the rings situated in front of Belline House.

The unenviable task of judging the final fell on the shoulders of two competent horsewomen, Sarah Collen, the only lady jockey to win the Galway Plate and a recognised judge in Ireland and the UK. She was joined by renowned judge and producer, Rosemary Connors, who has achieved significant success on the showing circuit, most notably her multiple wins at the Dublin Horse Show.

The consistently high standard of horses on display each year has been recognised by both judges, a testament to the commitment of owners and retrainers who invest the time and effort to guide these horses into their second careers.

Novice section

In the Novice section, for horses in their first two years of competition, there were 12 combinations who took to the ring vying to impress the judges. Aine Phelan and Mr Adjudicator, winner of the first qualifier at Midleton Show in May, impressed the judges on the initial go around and were pulled in first. After a miscommunication in their individual show piece, the 11-year-old Camacho gelding struck off on the wrong canter lead which subsequently cost them the win. In their first season together, Phelan was “disappointed but really happy with how the year has gone.”

Amy Kinane and Khafaaq were initially pulled in second place but after a foot-perfect show piece, both judges were in agreement and they were crowned the winners. “It really means so, so much,” she said. The 10-year-old gelding by Helmet won two qualifiers - at Raheendaw Horse and Pony Show and at the Tattersalls Ireland July Show. With nearly 60 runs on the track when trained by Andrew Slattery, the gelding amassed over £65,000 in earnings. Kinane works as an Equine Science lecturer in Limerick University and started Khafaaq’s retraining at the end of last year following his retirement from the track.

Open section

In the Open section, it was a case of redemption for Native River and Emily MacMahon after what was a slightly disappointing Dublin Horse Show for them. The combination seemed to have everything straight on the day though and impressed the judges from the outset to claim the title. “I’m absolutely thrilled, he won two qualifiers, Nugentstown Show and Tattersalls July Show, so it was nice to complete the hat-trick,” said MacMahon. With over €1 million pounds earned in prize money on the track, winning the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, as well as multiple other high profile races including the Hennessy Gold Cup. Native River has, since retirement, been based in the UK and qualified and competed in the Horse of the Year Show in the Racehorse to Riding Horse class.

After multiple conversations with Tom Malone, MacMahon finally got her wish to have him over in Ireland to compete at the Dublin Horse Show this year. “He’s just a gent and a real sensible creature, I had to walk him up through the trade stands as I ended up parked in the wrong car park and he never even batted an eyelid - a good ambassador for the thoroughbreds!”

Vincent Phelan and Askforbigmoney took second place, having qualified at Midleton Show earlier in the season. Phelan and the nine-year-old gelding by Ask have had a fruitful time together, being crowned Reserve Champion Racehorse to Riding Horse at the Dublin Horse Show in 2024. The gelding ran three times on the point-to-point track before he began his retraining journey with Phelan.

A huge thank you must go to Tattersalls Ireland for their generous sponsorship of the series again this year. Their continuous support to the aftercare of racehorses is highlighted again this year and is hugely appreciated by the thoroughbred community.