MONAGHAN’s Clem McMahon jumped to the top the Horse Sport Ireland 1.50m Premier Series leaderboard last Sunday, when he rode to victory in the second round at Portmore Equestrian Centre aboard Hilton Pacato (see cover image page 89). This combination had put in an impressive performance to take the runner-up placing in the opening round at Barnadown.
Owned by Hilton Farm and bred by Peter Rice, the 12-year-old gelding is by McMahon’s former Nations Cup horse Pacino out of the Cavalier-sired Cavailer Lagan.
Speaking after the win, Clem McMahon said: “Going first is never easy as you know that you have to lay down the marker. I am lucky because the horse is very careful and he has a long stride which allowed me to make up the time, especially in the last line. He is very balanced so it allowed me to take the tight lines.
“It was a very good course and it was equivalent to a two-star Grand Prix on the continent. The weather wasn’t great in the run up to the show, but the venue did an excellent job and the surfaces jumped really well.
“I would like to thank Horse Sport Ireland for supporting this league as it was really needed for the horses that have moved up from the young horse classes. It’s a pity that there wasn’t a few more legs as there is a big gap between this round and the next round at Balmoral.”
Greg Broderick and Coolivio PS, second in the HSI Premier Series leg at Portmore \ John Gibson Sportingimagesni.co.uk
Competitive action
In total, 26 combinations went to post and of those, just four managed to jump clear in the opening round. Setting the challenge was the team of Rafael Suarez, Derrick Gillen and Colm Quinn.
First to go in the second round, McMahon knew that he would have to set the bar high with Hilton Pacato. Setting off at pace, he negotiated a great turn back to the early double and then back to the big oxer. A daring gallop back to the last fence paid off as he clocked the winning time of 36.39 seconds.
Deane Rogan and De L’Oiseliere faulted at the first fence and later at the second part of the double, crossing the line in 54.60 for eventual fourth. It has been a good start to the season for Rogan, who presently tops the Gain Equine Nutrition/Alltech Ireland National Grand Prix League. Owned by Declan McGarry and bred by S.C.E.A. De L’Oiseliere, the French-bred gelding is by Kapitol Argonne out of Miss Flight.
Broderick close
The only other double clear went the way of Tipperary’s Greg Broderick and Coolivio PS. Broderick followed a similar route to McMahon but wasn’t as quick across the ground and their time of 43.62 proved good enough for second.
Bred by Paul Schockemöhle in Gestüt Lewitz, the nine-year-old gelding is by Conthargos out of the Baloubet du Rouet-sired Stutbuch. He was previously campaigned by German rider Niclas Baule before changing hands to Alexander Butler. Broderick bought the horse from Carlos Pinto, whom Butler rides for. Last year the combination claimed victory in the seven/eight-year-old final at the Irish Breeders’ Classic
Kenneth Graham and Beir Bua (ISH) had the second part of the double down in a time of 42.54 which saw him slot into third place. Owned by Graham and bred by the late Harold McGahern, the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse is by Lancelot out of the Crusing-sired Rincoola Bua.
National Champions Capt. Geoff Curran and Glengarra Wood (ISH) missed out on the jump-off after picking up a time fault to finish fifth. Glengarra Wood, bred by Wexford’s Myles Somers, is an 11-year-old gelding by Capitalist out of the Cavalier Clover Lad-sired Cavalier Forest. He was bought as a four-year-old from Paul Donavan and Joe Owens and the Army Equitation School have produced him since then.
The fastest four-fault score from the first round came from Paul Carberry and Brandonview First Edition in sixth. Bred by Seamus Drea, the 11-year-old gelding is by Douglas Cavalier out of the Balda Beau-sired Brandonview Lady.