CONNOLLY’S RED MILLS

SPRING TOUR

BROADMEADOWS

A CAPTIVATING jump-off saw John Floody come out the victor in the third round of the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour in Broadmeadows last Sunday. Partnering the 11-year-old stallion HTS Blackrock, Floody stopped the clock at 36.39 just a fraction ahead of closest rival Paul Carberry riding Brandonview First Edition in 36.59.

“We’re delighted with the win. His (HTS Blackrock) owners were there so I was just really concentrating on having nice clear round so to have clinced the win is an added bonus, and great for them to be there to see it.

“I watched back the ‘head to head’ after the class and I saw just how close Paul (Carberry) came to catching me. He is very focused and determined, and is jumping a nice horse that he knows well so he really is becoming a force to be reckoned with. I think he will keep us all on our toes in the future.

“He is a fantastic horseman and to be able to come to the sport (show jumping) at this stage in his life and get to this level so quickly shows just how talented he is. I thought it was a testing enough track. Tom (Holden) is always clever about his courses and this was no exception. He was quite limited in what he can do, the previous week in Cavan was probably more technical but it’s a much bigger ring there so Stuart (Clarke) can build longer lines.

“It’s still very early in the season so I think it was a decent track for what was probably most horses third time out this year. I was pleased with how both my horses went. Shalimar Casino was double clear and I didn’t want to push her but I was very happy with how she went.

“I plan to go to Killossery this week and will make more of a plan after that. Ballyknock Diamond is just coming back from injury so it will be the end of April or May until he’s ready to go so I think for now I will concentrate on the young horses.

“I have a few I’m excited about; in particular the six-year-old Nala. She is owned by Ringwood Construction is by Kannan and is out of my former Grand Prix mount Athea Clover Mist; she is proving to be very interesting.

“Another one is the seven-year-old Castleroche Rebel. She feels great at the moment and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does this year,” said Floody following his win.

A large group of 16 of the 35 starters made it through to the timed round against the clock. Paddy O’Donnell was pathfinder aboard Swingtime. They faulted at the first part of the double and number five to finsh on eight faults.

Gerard Clarke and Lupins Lux Z provided the first double clear as second to go, stopping the clock at 39.36 for eventual fifth place.

Sven Hadley and Ganorad, the first of the three horses he had qualified for the jump-off, decided to retire after collecting faults and fence two as well as both parts of the double. The next rider in fared better, Tholm Keane riding Delano W left all the fences up and stopped the clock at 39.63 for sixth place.

Ailish Connolly and Cool Boy then ran into trouble at the double and finished with 12 to add.

Floody was sixth to go with HTS Blackrock. A fast pace from the off with a tight right-hand turn into fence five and then again into six, saw the pair break the finish beam in 36.39 and set the target for the remaining 10. The next two contenders Jamie Garland (Zed Leppin) and Vincent Byrne (Primo Royal) were left out of the running after the former collected 19 faults and the latter eight.

EXCITING

Paul Carberry and Brandonview First Edition as ninth in then almost matched Floody’s round. They were practically stride for stride the whole way around.

Floody had the advantage between fences two and three, but Carberry managed to catch up with a superb turn into fence six. They were neck and neck heading to the last and with less than a stride in it Carberry stopped the clock at 36.59, just 0.2 slower, to slot into the runner-up spot.

Sven Hadley and his second mount Quanbell produced a fault-free round as the next to go and in a fairly quick time of 37.36 for eventual third place.

Young Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Louis D’Or then had good round, which included a fantastic turn into fence five, unfortunately this was followed by a fault at six to finish on four faults.

Stephen Murphy and Chantelle then added their names to the list of clears stopping the clock at 39.31 for fourth place.

Floody’s second mount Shalimar Casino left all the fences intact but in a quite a slow time of 42.01 to finish out of the placings.

Tholm Keane then caused the upset of the day; he and Future Storm were up on time heading to the final fence but an error here cost them the win; they beat Floody’s leading time when stopping the clock at 35.61; but with four faults to add.

Angela Percy riding El Cid V.H. Migroveld then produced a steady clear round in 40.20 as second last to go which left them in eighth place.

Last in was Sven Hadley and his third mount Sumas Taloubet they left all the fences up but with fairly wide turns into both fences five and six they crossed the finish line in 37.43 to slot into fourth place.

The next and fourth round of the spring league takes place in Killossery Lodge Stud tomorrow (Sunday).