Tara Dunne

GREG Broderick had the rev counter in the red to triumph in Sunday’s 1.35m Fancy Dress Speed class. Drawn at the midway point of 30 starters, Broderick set a time of 51.89 seconds with MHS Automatic which would prove unbeatable.

Owned by Frances O’Reagan, MHS Automatic is by Quidam Junior I out of a Diamond Serpent-sired dam. Broderick only picked up the ride on the gelding last month but the nine-year-old has proven remarkably consistent in their short partnership. The pair featured at the international show in Cavan recently and this weekend also won Saturday’s €4,000 1.30m Accumulator.

Broderick commented: “I actually rode MHS Automatic as a young horse before he went to O’Reagans. He was always a good horse and I was over the moon when I got the chance to ride him again. He has jumped six classes in the last two weeks and he’s won two and been placed in four. He is unbelievably consistent. He is a horse I’d really look forward to for the future but there is a huge amount of interest in him and ultimately I think he will be sold.”

Sven Hadley had set the original time to beat early in the class before being relegated to the runner-up position. The young rider was paired with the 11-year-old Andiamo Z-sired Adelgonde Z and recorded a time of 52.45.

Daniel Coyle was just fractions off this pace with Uptown Girl but he secured the yellow rosette by breaking the beams in 52.93. Thomas O’Brien had the fastest time of the day with the 13-year-old Ullrich. Tight turns saw the Co Galway-based rider finish 51.78 but a fence down pushed them down the order.

Young rider Roisin Fagan riding Ikan and John Floody with Sonas Magnum both came home within the 57-second mark to finish fifth and sixth respectively. With very few riders making the effort to dress up beyond, the best turned-out awards went to Vickie Anderson and her mount Zack, dressed as Batman and Robin, and John Floody in a full skeleton costume.