Dorgan worked up the height scale pretty methodically first recording a 1.10m victory riding Olympic De Euro, an Irish-bred 10-year-old mare by Galoubet Du Marais out of a Flagmount Diamond mare, the pair heading a very competitive two-phase competition.
Following on from that win, Dorgan had Sir Edward hugging the wings all the way to storm home ahead in the 1.20m.
Finishing second to Dorgan was his pupil Sophie Teede who is from Zimbabwe and she was riding the ever-reliable Playboy.
Dorgan completed his hat-trick with a superb win riding Cavello Z who put the major 1.30m competition beyond the reach of his rivals.
“It’s nice to be back in action, all the horses seem in fine form and it all went very well today,” said Dorgan.
Next on the agenda was a visit to Surrey County where Dorgan scored two places in the feature 1.45m class where Cavallo Z and Centamiro, an Irish bred 11-year-old out of Drumadoney Lass, claimed fifth and ninth spot respectively.
Dorgan was also in the money at Bury Farm where Cavallo Z produced one of only four double clears to finish fourth in the 1.45m, and the Irish-bred Lincourt Cruise, claimed ninth spot in the 1.30m.
“It’s onward and upwards and my main aim at the moment is towards the Hickstead Derby Meeting,” concluded Dorgan.
After a successful sunshine tour this spring, Darragh McCarthy has landed running back at his Hickstead base with Breen Equestrian and he is now busy combining his new role of looking after sales and acquisitions with riding and competing.
“We’ve sold 12 horses in four weeks to some very well known clients and I have been on the road quite a bit competing too,” said McCarthy.
At the recent Chepstow International CSI**, McCarthy claimed a 1.30m third with Harlequin Pearl and Fragile D’Or was placed in 1.35m and 1.40m classes.
McCarthy also went well at Royal Windsor finishing equal first after Ucello Torroy jumped classic triple clears.
Closer to home, McCarthy has been educating some younger horses at local shows such as Pyecombe and Felbridge.
After Shane Breen’s brilliant win with Farao Van’t Vennehof in the world-ranking Falcon stakes at Royal Windsor, David Simpson scored a brilliant win in the national classes when Arantos headed the ladies and gents championship.
The Sussex-based Irishman is doubly busy at the moment as his partner Louise Pavitt is sidelined after breaking her shoulder competing in Belgium.
“We have 14 horses in full work at home so I’m trying to keep them all ticking over,” said Simpson who travelled a mixture of youth and experience to Felbridge recently where Clear The Away and Richi Rich III clinched the top two places in the 1.30m and some promising youngsters jumped double clears.
Simpson is also very excited about Julia Cruden’s German-bred five-year-old Keoki.
“He is one of the best horses I’ve ridden. We have a nice bunch of horses and enjoyed lots of places at Windsor. Next for us is the South of England and Bolesworth (CSI***),” added Simpson.
WINDSOR DOUBLE
Enjoying a winning double in the national classes at Royal Windsor was Hickstead-based Michael Duffy who headed a marathon B&C competition riding Old Lodge’s Shahenaz and he followed that victory up with another typically determined win with Torino who claimed the seven and eight-year-old championship.
Brian Cassidy is back up and running after a winter competing in Abu Dhabi, and after Royal Windsor and a few local shows the Galway rider is aiming for the Hickstead Derby Meeting.
“Everything is in full swing at the moment and it’s all systems go,” said Cassidy.
Anthony Condon is another rider settling back into Britain after the sunshine tour in Spain and a recent visit to Austria.
After having the misfortune to lose one of his top rides Value T to colic, Condon is next bound for Warren Farm and Netley Hall before travelling the short distance to the Bolesworth International CSI*** next week.
Dean Wilson has made the move from Wales to Cheshire, the Kilkenny rider now based with producer and trainer Adrian Marsh at the Heathcroft Stud.
“I have six or seven to ride each day and plenty to compete. This is the ideal base as there are local shows midweek and weekends all the time,” said Wilson.
Grantham-based Eoin Gallagher has also been out and about, Quantum gaining his Scope Festival ticket at Weston Lawns with fourth place in the 1.15m qualifier and the pair followed that up with a good double clear to claim third in the Foxhunter class.
Scotland-based Trevor Nicholson is currently out of action with a broken hand sustained at Ayr Show.
Nicholson produced a good round clear from Ayrton in the open competition but bent his hand back awkwardly when landing over a fence.
Even though his hand was swelling rapidly, Nicholson went back in the ring to jump off and secured fourth place.
Nicholson now has a ‘pot’ on his hand and is not sure whether he will be fit to compete at the Royal Highland Show later this month.
In the meantime his partner Aileen Craig will ride the horses. “I’m hoping to get this pot off in the next couple of weeks, so it’s fingers crossed,” said Nicholson.