Tara Dunne

WITH time running out to secure qualification for the four, five, six, seven and eight-year-old classes at the Dublin Horse Show, the standard of jumping remained strong in Wednesday’s penultimate qualifying round at Barnadown Showjumping.

Some 77 combinations lined out in the four-year-old division but in the end it was Sophie Richards’ mount MHS Fernhill who caught the eye of the German judging duo Jens Meyer and Harm Thormaehlen.

Bred by the late Ita Brennan, Carol Gee’s MHS Fernhill is by Cardento out of the dam MHS Pembrook Lady (Guidam – Cavalier Royale).

The judges have a wealth of experience between them, with Meyer as a former member of the Hanoverian Society at the State Stud Celle while Thormaehlen is a well-known Holsteiner breeder.

The pair have already been impressed by the progeny of Cardento, a former Olympic silver medallist under Peter Eriksson, awarding top marks to Castlebridge Cassius in the previous qualifier in the Meadows.

The runner-up position went to Abby V Overis Z, ridden by Darragh Ryan. Jointly owned by Greg Broderick and his godfather PJ Ryan, this exceptionally well-bred five-year-old mare is by Arko III out of a Diamant De Semilly dam.

The RDS rules state that five-year-old mares, having carried a foal to parturition as a four-year-old, and providing that the foal was subsequently registered in a studbook, are permitted to compete in the four-year-old qualifiers. The aim is to encourage breeding from potential high performance mares while they are young, without penalising them in the age classes.

Purchased for her pedigree, Abby V Overis Z is related to Broderick’s Cartouche V Overis Z, as well as the eight-year-old Fabrice Van Overis, currently competing up to 1.45m level with Britain’s Robert Whitaker.

The mare had a filly foal by Bamako De Muze and Broderick is also waiting on an embryo by Kannan.

Speaking to The Irish Field, he said: “I think she is as good a young horse as we have had. She has only just come back into work so I think by the time Dublin comes around she will have improved and will be the one to beat. She was purchased as a broodmare because she is from such a good family and won’t be sold, probably retiring to stud after Dublin.”

In a significant fall in numbers, only 65 started in the five-year-old class and the class needed only two rounds to decide the nine places when the second round yielded that exact number of clears. The nine combinations made the decision to forestall a jump-off and subsequently divided the class.

Two riders ensured a successful day when qualifying two horses apiece. Linda Moloney secured a place for Zilko (Je T’Aime Flamenco – Corland) and Woodendfarm Milly (VDL Arkansas – Ardcroney Lad VII) while Ethen Ahearne had HHS Falsterbo (Heritage Fortunas – Cavalier Royale) and HVL Oxana (Orestus – Flagmount King).

DOUBLE CLEARS

Qualifying places in the six-year-old division were also decided in a second round. With only six double clears emerging from the original starting 56, the final three placings were decided amongst the fastest of the four-faulters.

Joan Greene was one of the riders to supply a double clear, riding Vivendi Tipperary (Ars Vivendi – Concorde). She had been on form earlier in the day, also securing a place with the five-year-old Drumagoland Chip.

The seven and eight-year-old class remained as competitive as ever and was dominated by one rider, Ger O’Neill. The Co Kilkenny-based rider took three of the top four places on the day, including the winner, runner-up and fourth spots.

Coming out on top with the seven-year-old gelding Easter Monday (Wietvot – Julio Mariner) when setting the time to beat at 38.26 seconds, O’Neill secured the blue rosette and filled his quota with a time of 39.78 aboard his father Jim’s Castlefield Gucci (OBOS Quality – Diamond Serpent). He took fourth place on his recent Grand Prix victor Dondoctro Ryal K.

Philip Gaw ensured the top three placings were filled by seven-year-old horses, slotting in between O’Neill with the Luidam mare Ardnacashel Coovella.

The final chance for qualification comes in two weeks’ time on Wednesday, June 6th at Galway EC.