Around the ringside

It was some achievement for Co Antrim farmer/breeder David Sloan to have two horses from the same family for the hunter championship judging in the Laya Arena last Saturday morning.

Drumlane Golden Boy and Drumlane Kate had rightfully earned their tickets with Rachel Moore Rooney, and the latter was the judges’ choice for the mares’ title. This was adding to their ladies’ side-saddle champion’s sash won two days earlier. Drumlane Golden Boy, meanwhile, stood reserve in the middleweight championship.

The five-year-old Drumlane Kate is by the show jumping sire Je T’Aime Flamenco and her dam Drumlane Rose is a full-sister to Drumlane Orchid, the dam of Drumlane Golden Boy. This six-year-old is by the ID Lislap Benedict (Crosstown Dancer).

Drumlane Rose, now deceased, and Drumlane Orchid are both by the Cicero stallion Cavaliere. David also bred their dam Artic Sun (by Countach) and has several young fillies from that line still at home.

“I sold Drumlane Golden Boy last year, but I still have his dam Drumlane Orchid,” he said. “She has a filly foal at foot by Gortfree Lakeside Lad. I also have a half-sister to Drumlane Kate and she produced a filly by Je T’Aime Flamenco this year.

“I’ve had horses with Rachel a long time. She leaves no stone unturned and turns them out to perfection. I never expected to breed a winner at the RDS so it is just fantastic.”

As to the future of Drumlane Kate, he said: “She can jump too, so I’d need to be offered a lot of money to sell her!”

Dam good

There were plenty of people watching out for BBK Flynn all week. One who was taking a keen interest was Emily Aves of Harling Wood Stud in Norfolk, owner of his dam, the David Mulholland-bred 11-year-old BBK Sumaya.

She produced one foal for him as a four-year-old in 2019, that being the supreme hunter champion, by Arkan, and was later sold on.

“I’ve had Sumaya for about three years now,” Aves said. “David contacted me as he knew I was looking for a show jumper and she had been showing promise. She is competing with us now. She started her career last year and won her first class a couple of weeks ago.

“She is the loveliest horse, an absolute yard favourite and has the most perfect manners, so I wasn’t surprised to hear that Flynn has a similar temperament. She will hopefully be going to breed next year for a foal in 2028.”