PADDOCK CHAT by ruth loney

SLOAN ALLENS OUT IN FORCE

JOANNE Sloan Allen, owner of the Paris GCT winner Suma’s Zorro was in Chantilly with rider Sameh El Dahan and her parents Pat and Joe. Competing in the Amphitheatre arena over three days, Joanne was also prepping Sameh for the main arena GCT events.

“We are based in Provence for the summer, it has been hectic this month, but we were delighted with the Paris win and to everybody who supported us, it has been fantastic.” Competing with Luciana Diniz and Edouard de Rothschild’s Fairplay, Joanne has decided to purchase the For Pleasure mare to breed.

Sameh El Dahan and Suma’s Zorro collected €3,000 in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Chantilly for 11th place and €5,580 for fifth in the Saturday’s league.

SPRINGSTEEN IN FORM

JESSICA Springsteen, now competing for Rushy Marsh Farm who also send horses to Denis Lynch, enjoyed her win in Sunday’s speed Grand Prix on board RMF Tinkerbell.

“I am very happy to have ended my weekend with a win in Chantilly. I will go home with a smile now.” Rushy Marsh Farm is owned by Frank McCourt, co-founder of the Global Champions Tour.

Springsteen told The Irish Field her dad, Bruce, was busy with his Broadway performances and she was based in Europe at Helena Stormann’s yard in Germany, alongside Denis Lynch. Lynch and Sprinsteen finished fourth with Miami Celtics in the Global Champions League on Saturday.

Julia Lynch, wife of Denis competed in the smaller events and finished a creditable sixth in Sunday’s 1.35m Grand Prix with an eight-year-old stallion Tulara Colmine.

CONDON VICTORY

WATERFORD’s Anthony Condon won the two-star Grand Prix at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Chantilly, France, last weekend with the exciting stallion SFS Aristio. The 12-year-old Arko III-sired stallion, who is owned by Condon and John Hales, missed most of last season with an injured but has returned to his best form of late.

In Saturday’s class, Condon was one of nine clears in a massive 19-horse jump-off. His time of 38.45 earned him just over €6,000. Trevor Breen also made it through to the jump-off aboard Clyde VA, a nine-year-old stallion by Caretino. Clyde VA won a four-star 1.50m at Hickstead under Shane recently.

DODD REMEMBERED

BALLINA’S Vinnie Duffy commuted between the European in Fontainebleau and Chantilly where his son Michael was competing. “Fontainebleau was amazing and we had superb riders there.”

However the sad passing of family friend Jack Dodd last month remains firmly in the minds of the Duffy family: “I think about him every day,” said Vinnie. “Young Jack had a great future, he was part of our lives and our boys all grew up together. Being here brings it home to you and he will never be forgotton.”