MISS Darco, ridden by Thomas O’Brien, won the KPMG sponsored leg of the SJI Autumn Grand Prix at Killossery Lodge last Sunday afternoon.

Speaking after the class, O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with this win here today in Killossery. Miss Darco is a nine-year-old mare by Darco out of Green Sleeps Divine by Drossan, she was bred by Sinead Connelly from Co Galway. We bought her as a five-year-old and she has always been very consistent.

“She has had an excellent year; she started by winning the Spring Tour in Maryville and then the Spring Grand Prix in Millstreet. She then won the Betfair Grand Prix in Mullingar in June, she really has been in super form all year.

“She placed in two other rounds of this league, the 1.35m and the 1.40m rounds in Mullingar before winning here. I think the plan now is to do a couple more of these autumn league classes this year, because she had a little break during the summer so she’s still quite fresh so hopefully she will continue to do well.”

Competitive action

A starting list of 28 combinations lined out for the 16th round of the Autumn league over the Frank Glynn-designed track. Of these 10 had one fence down for four faults in round one. Just three had two fences down for eight faults, five collected 12 faults or more while three decided to retire on course. The first fence, the triple combination at number five and the third last fence caused most of the problems over this 1.35m track.

This left just seven combinations to progress to the timed decider. First to go was Derek McConnell and his own Longfield Quinlui (Quintender – Luidam), they maintained their clean second round in a time of 35.93 to set the pace.

Second in was Edward Doyle Jnr with Peadar Byrne’s Cruise Mor (Furisto’s Diamond – Cruising). They too left all the fences intact but in a slower time of 36.65 which would slot them into eventual fifth place in the final line-up.

Paul Carberry was third in with his own Brandonview First Edition. Things did not go well for the pair; they faulted at the first and third last fences to finish on a total of eight faults in 36 seconds for seventh place.

Next in was John Floody and Kevin Thompson’s Donevan Erkindale. They produced the third double clear round, stopping the clock in a fast time of 34.25 which would see them take the runner-up spot.

Gabriel Slattery was fifth in aboard Jackie Lee’s nine-year-old mare Kashino (Cassino – Captain Clover). A consistent performer at this level, it came as no surprise when she posted a clear round in 35.35 for third place.

The penultimate pair in was O’Brien and Miss Darco, tight turns combined with an ongoing forward stride with razor sharp accuracy saw this pair slice exactly two seconds off the leading time, breaking the beam at 32.25 to secure the victory.

Last to go was Derek McConnell with his second mount Dothraki Warlord (Mermus R – Diamant de Semilly). At just seven years old, this gelding is still learning and McConnell did not push him to try to catch such a quick time but rather let him learn with a clear round in 42.99 and slot into sixth place.

The Autumn League takes a short break over the next few weeks and will resume on November 23rd where Portmore will be the venue for the 1.35m followed by a 1.40m round at the same location on Sunday, November 24th.