THE Irish Sport Horse (ISH) eventing studbook has scored an emphatic win in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) rankings, making this a record 23rd victory for the Irish studbook.
In a stellar year for Irish-bred event horses, the WBFSH rankings proved to be the best collective result yet by the ISH studbook. In an unprecedented finish, five of the top six Irish Sport Horses – Ballaghmor Class (third), Vanir Kamira (fourth), Ivar Gooden (10th), Quarrycrest Echo (11th) and Brookpark Vikenti (14th) – finished in the top-20, with European individual bronze medallist Rioghan Rua (21st) close behind.
In 18th place is MGH Grafton Street whose incomplete breeding record currently preclude the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials winner from featuring in the top-six.
As predicted, Burghley’s results swung the balance in favour of another Irish win. Just nine points behind the Hanoverian Verband in the penultimate August rankings, the ISH studbook swept ahead to finish the WBFSH calendar year on 1,409 points, in front of the Hanoverian Verband (1,221) and last year’s winners, the KWPN (1,216).
These two studbooks also produced the top points earning individual horses in FischerChipmunk FRH (HANN) and Bayro (KWPN), with the Courage II-sired Ballaghmor Class completing the top-three.
Show jumping lowest
It was not such good news in the show jumping rankings, topped again by the KWPN. The ISH studbook finished in 17th place, its lowest result to date in these global rankings. The KWPN also finished in front in the dressage studbook rankings and the European gold medallist Bella Rose 2 (WESTF) was the leading dressage horse.
In the individual show jumping horse leaderboard, Explosion W (KWPN), Toveks Mary Lou (WESTF) and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (ZANG) mirrored the order of the top-three showjumping studbooks.
FischerChipmunk, Explosion W and Bella Rose 2’s breeders will attend the Longines WBFSH Breeders award ceremony in Lyon next month.
With Irish-bred event horses also dominating the Hippomundo prize money-based rankings, 2019 was a remarkable comeback year for eventing breeding here.
WBFSH EVENTING ISH RANKINGS
3rd – Ballaghmor Class (Courage II – Kilderry Place, by Young Convinced. Breeder: Noel Hickey).
4th – Vanir Kamira (Camiro de Haar Z – Fair Caledonian, by Dixi. Breeder: Kate Jackson).
10th –Ivar Gooden (Young Convinced – Ballybrohan Beauty, by Coevers Diamond Boy. Breeder: Pat Coffey).
11th – Quarrycrest Echo (Clover Echo – Royal China, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: John Dooley).
14th – Brookpark Vikenti (Master Imp – Tullineaskey’s Butler’s Simon, by Ballysimon. Breeder: Trevor Kingston).
21st – Rioghan Rua (Jack of Diamonds – Highland Destiny, by Flagmount King. Breeder: Margaret Kinsella).
WBFSH SHOW JUMPING ISH RANKINGS
154th – Loughnavatta Indigo (Luidam – Loughnavatta Sabrina, by VDL Arkansas. Breeder: Rory Costigan).
258th – Luibanta BH (Luidam – Mibanta, by Abantos. Breeder: Justin Burke).
258th – Gatsby (Simba – Daisy Cruise, by Cruise On. Breeder: Cormac McKay).
333rd – CHS Krooze (Kroongraaf – Cruise Oak, by Cruising. Breeder: Vincent O’Callaghan).
376th – Claddagh Iroko (Iroko – Another Cruise, by Cruising. Breeder: Charlie McElhinney).
396th – Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars (Touchdown – Irco Rain, by Irco Mena. Breeder: Noel Cawley).