CANADIAN Rebecca McGoldrick dominated in the second round of the 1.40m National Grand Prix league held at Kernan’s Equestrian last Saturday.

Riding her own 13-year-old Belgium-bred gelding Horatio Van Erpekom, the pair posted a winning time of 36.22 seconds to secure the top spot in the Botanica International-sponsored event.

This was the first National Grand Prix to be held on the new upgraded Frank Kernan sand arena and the improvements have been well received by competitors.

A delighted McGoldrick said: “It was a great place to make our comeback, this was our first show back and the arena looked fantastic, they’ve done a great job.

“I’ve been very lucky, Dermott (Lennon) and his brilliant crew kept the horses going so well when I was away.

“We were at a show in Spain when the restrictions were just starting, the horses came back home and I went to my parents’ place in Massachusetts just outside Boston and ended up having to stay there for almost three months.

“When I came back to Ireland, I had to quarantine for two weeks so I’m actually only really just back riding them now, so to have Hugo (Horatio Van Erpekom) go so well and win is great.

“I’m not really sure where I made up the time in the jump-off. The warm-up is in the indoor and although I was second-last into the ring I hadn’t seen anyone else go; but my horse is naturally fast and if I can manage to lead him in an efficient manner we normally end up quite quick.

“We’ve been practising our turns at home, and he was feeling fresh after his break so we were very lucky on the day that it went our way.

“Going forward we intend to go to Barnadown to jump on the grass which I enjoy and then I think Mullingar is our next plan but beyond that it’s hard to say. We will have to wait and see how things go and what is the safest way forward for everyone and then plan further.

“While I was at home I have a couple of youngsters that I was working with. My Mom bred one that is four years old now – he is a stallion by Beach Ball out of a granddaughter of Liscalgot, so it’s lovely to have that connection to here.

“My plan is to hopefully bring him over to continue his education here,” said McGoldrick.

She has been partnering Horatio since he was a six-year-old and the pair have accumulated several wins and placings over the years.

These include victory in the 1.50m Land Rover winning round competition at the four-star international in Samorin in 2017, as well as a win in the 1.50m Grand Prix at the Cavan International in 2015.

Their national record includes a win in the 1.40m Autumn Championships in Portmore in 2017 and then in the Spring 1.40m championships at the same venue in 2019.

In 2016 they just missed out on victory in the South County Dublin Grand Prix when they recorded the fastest time in the jump-off but had one fence down to take the eventual runner-up spot.

Whittled down

Just eight of the 41 starters supplied a first round clear over the Rafael Suarez-designed track to progress to the timed decider.

Michelle Kenny and Chirokko M just missed out incurring a single time fault in round one which left them in ninth place overall.

A dozen combinations had a single fence down for four faults apiece, while just one Max Wachmann (Brooklyn De Hus) added a further two time faults for a six fault total.

Nine of the starters had two fences down to finish on eight faults, eight more collected a score in excess of the eight fault mark and two retired on course.

Of the eight which made it into the jump-off, an equal four managed to leave all the fences intact while four more had one fence down for four faults.

The runner-up spot went to Francis Derwin Jnr after he rode Carol Gee’s MHS Fernhill to a superb clear in 37.00.

MHS Fernhill is by Cavalier Royale and out of the OBOS Quality 004 mare MHS OBOS Cruise and was bred by the late Ita Brennan.

Third place went to Dermott Lennon and his own Athletix Hero Z in 39.58, while Michelle Kenny and Harry Marshall’s Barcelona were fourth in 41.81.

The fastest of the four-faulters was John Floody riding Denyse Hughes’ 12-year-old Jacomar gelding Ballyknock Diamond. They stopped the clock at 37.36 but with a single error had to settle for fifth place.

Kenneth Graham and his own 10-year-old Lancelot x Cruising mare Beir Bua finished just behind them in 37.52 for sixth place, while Frank Curran and Ardragh Chekoff took seventh and Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lights Out completed the winners’ line-up in eighth.

Sunday’s Ulster Region 1.35m Grand Prix competition, again sponsored by Botanica International, saw a total of 30 starters line out. Of these an even 10 made it into the jump-off.

Victory for Curran

Early leader, Dowth Hall, ridden by the Army Equitation School’s Captain Geoff Curran, stopped the clock at 35.86 as second to go. They held this lead throughout the decider to secure the victory.

The final combination into the ring, Luke Campbell riding Corlioni, came closest to catching them when they posted a time of 36.96 for second place.

Third place went to Simon Scott and Jasmine Tide with a time of 36.99.