JIMMY Quinn now owns two ‘triple crown’ Irish Draught stallions after Cappa Aristocrat’s third win at Dublin matched the same record of his stable companion Cappa Cassanova.

Champion here in 2017 and 2019, the Star Kingdom son had a less direct path to his third title. The APCOA-sponsored Irish Draught stallion class, which attracted a maximum entry of 20, was split into two sections, followed by an overall championship.

Unlike the move to eventing and show jumping sections in The Irish Field Breeders’ Championship, this split met with a more lukewarm response from the majority of stallion owners and spectators.

“I suppose I was very lucky and it worked in my favour,” said Quinn, who also owns Cappa Dianthus, second in the opening class for even-numbered entries in the catalogue. “Twenty stallions is too many in one class at the same time, so for safety reasons, I guess there was no alternative but to split the class.”

That opening class was won by Amy Perkins’ Corrindon Dancer, by another triple champion in Crosstown Dancer and out of Moylough Holly, a half-sister to Frank and Paula Cullen’s Ballymac Holly Mae, second to Drynam Hero in the six-year-old and over Irish Draught performance final.

Spotted by Perkins three years ago at the Addington stallion parade, the opportunity came up to buy the liver chesnut stallion. He was bred by Pat Hoare, whose 2019 reserve champion Moylough Legacy, was fifth in this opening class.

“Dancer always had something special about him, I always said he’s a Dublin champion,” Amy said about her decision to make the cross-channel trip from Essex. “I just had to take him, he’s a beautiful horse and his temperament is like no other.”

Second to the UK entry was Quinn’s aforementioned 10-year-old Cappa Dianthus, by his own Cappa Cassanova out of Portumna Carnation, who traces back to the great Pink Carnation.

Third place went to the youngest in the class, Seamus Sloyan’s King Elvis I, a rare find by King Elvis and grandson of the most-crowned Irish Draught mare in modern history: Elm View. Just a three-year-old, who passed as a Class 1 stallion at this year’s Cavan inspections, he attracted great interest from prospective buyers.

Pat Hoare’s outstanding Dublin continued when his second entry, Moylough Supremacy, by Legacy, placed second to Cappa Aristocrat in the next half.

DS Ballagh Bouncer, owned by Liam Lynskey, was third, one place above another former three-time winner: Sean Barker’s Gortfree Hero.

Great experience

Just the two winners were brought back for the overall championship which went Cappa Aristocrat’s way and completed his treble.

“He’s only coming into his prime so I’m sure we’ll give it another go next year,” Quinn replied, when asked about a rematch. “Let’s not rule out 2023 but maybe with a different one of my Irish Draught stallions.’’

“Hopefully the girl in the little red Gucci shoes and tweed skirt gives other lady stallion handlers some courage to get out there and parade, it’s a wonderful experience,” added Perkins.

Was it difficult to judge the class in two halves?

“Yes, and I think we should have had the first and second from both classes forward for the championship, rather than just one,” replied Henrietta Knight, who judged alongside Jean-Luc Dufour.