SHANNON Mackenzie claimed her first outright victory of the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour, triumphing at Portmore Equestrian Centre last Sunday with Bens Lady Lux.

Having narrowly missed out on the win in rounds at Cavan EC and Ravensdale Lodge, Mackenzie made the most of a strong hand in the jump-off, making a concentrated effort to claim and hold the top spot on this occasion.

Mackenzie commented: “I’ve been second twice and both times, the last horse beat me. I was very conscious of Sven (Hadley) coming after me, he had beaten me in Cavan so it was great to win.”

Mackenzie outlining her successful strategy over the day said: “With my first horse, I just wanted to jump a nice clear, I took a few turns but didn’t go too fast and it turned out it was good enough for the lead.

“I aimed for a slow clear with my younger horse, she is a new ride and I’m taking my time with her so it came down to Bens Lady Lux. I kept it really tight with her and tried to keep moving. She has a really big stride which made it easier to make up time and I was able to leave out a stride to the last.”

Owned by Karen Mackenzie, Bens Lady Lux is by Lux Z out of a Cavalier Royale dam. Purchased as an unbroken three-year-old from the breeder, David Blessington, the home-produced mare has been a dependable performer for the Mackenzie family.

The winner of the inaugural Irish Breeders Classic in 2012, the now 10-year-old has a consistent record through the age classes including representing Ireland at the World Breeding Championships in Lanaken in 2013, competing in the international seven and eight-year-old class at the Dublin Horse Show and continuing on to step up to National Grand Prix level.

The first progeny of Bens Lady Lux is expected this May, an embryo transfer sired by Diamant de Semilly.

With the double header of the Spring Tour last weekend, numbers were reduced in both rounds dropping to 29 declared competitors in Ballinamona and Portmore EC. Twenty five lined out at Portmore EC to take the Rafael Suarez-designed course with 10 making it through to the timed decider.

Mackenzie had three chances in the clocked round and made sure that each one counted. Taking it on first with the nine-year-old Veron-sired Dyolita, the Co. Antrim rider secured the lead from rival Hadley with a clear round in a time of 37.45 seconds. Hadley had set the original benchmark with Quanbell coming home in a time of 37.54.

Mackenzie also took eventual sixth place with new mount Chanel IV, fault-free in 40.86. The eight-year-old Cartani-sired mare was sourced at the end of last year in Britain after showing promise in the young horse divisions internationally under Max Routledge.

As the penultimate rider with Bens Lady Lux, Mackenzie was taking on her own standard which had held from the early stages but also had Hadley left to come on Sumas Taloubet.

Knowing her effort had to stand up to Hadley’s inevitable challenge, Mackenzie took every risk and a daring gallop to the last saw her come home over four seconds faster than her previous attempt, clocking a time of 33.02.

This time would prove unbeatable with Hadley unable to come home within reach, although making a good enough effort to take the runner-up position when recording 34.54 with the 12-year-old Sumas Taloubet.

With Mackenzie and Hadley dominating the top six only one rider managed to slot between them to secure fifth place. This was Mary McShane with the homebred eight-year-old Creevagh Camiro de Haar Z-sired MMS Camilla.

On form over the weekend, McShane had also finished in the top six in the previous day’s Mini Grand Prix and taking on Sunday’s jump-off in the early stages, McShane put in another solid double clear, stopping the clock at 37.99.

Hadley strengthened his position at the top of the leader board with Sunday’s result, having amassed a total of 34 points so far, while currently occupying second place on the league leader board is Mackenzie.

This weekend sees another double bill of the Spring Tour with Broadmeadows EC having hosted the seventh leg on Friday with the action returning to Cavan EC on Sunday.