THE Grade A Irish Sport Horse stallion Derryinver Luxury Cruise has been purchased from Dave Campbell by Paul Larkin, of Larkin Bros Int Ltd, whose daughter Emelie (15) will compete the 11-year-old grey in juniors this season.

“I’ve been looking at the horse for a long time,” said the Co Meath producer. “I had him vetted last Monday week and he arrived here three days later. The plan is for Emelie to ride the horse this year but I’ve had a couple of Americans trying to buy him from me already. If he is still with us, I intend bringing him to Florida at the end of the summer, when Emelie starts transition year, and we’ll see how strong the interest is in him then.

“Derryinver Luxury Cruise has been brilliantly produced by Catherine Thornton who has ridden him throughout most of his career. He’s a lovely stallion by Lux Z out of a Cruising mare but is simple enough for a child to ride,” continued Larkin.

“I believe he’s a good, solid 1.45m horse but, like any quality Irish-bred, may still be improving.”

The grey was bred in Portadown by Tom and Linda Magee out of Icing, a full-sister to the former Grade A stallion Loch Cruise

While Thornton first produced Derryinver Luxury Cruise as a four-year-old, qualifying him for Dublin where he won the Mr Springfield championship, Harry Marshall took over the mount towards the end of 2010 and also rode him as a six and seven-year-old, competing with him at the World Breeding Championships at Lanaken. The horse was also partnered for a time by Luke Campbell and Dermott Lennon before returning to Thornton early in 2014, competing successfully on the national Grand Prix circuit since then.

Over the past two seasons, Emelie rode Flexing with great success, at home and abroad, in children on horses and young rider classes. The 17-year-old Cruising full-sister to the great Flexible is to be bred from this year but is then due to return to competition under Natalie, the youngest of Paul and Petra Larkin’s three daughters.

Dressage rider Linnea, the eldest of the trio, retains the ride until June on the multi-talented The Dashing Black even though the Irish Draught gelding has been sold to an American client. The Penmerryls Rhythm And Blues nine-year-old, who covered a small number of mares in 2010 before being gelded, has 129 Dressage Ireland points and 66 Show Jumping Ireland points.

“Trade to the States is hopping,” commented Paul Larkin who is heading to Florida next week having sent over some sale horses in advance. “It’s very easy to sell a good Irish-bred who goes in a snaffle, is good at his transitions and behaves well.”