Three-star Spanish victory for Foley

CARLOW’s Jason Foley was busy at the CES Valencia equestrian tour in Oliva, Spain, last weekend with multiple rides and came out on top in a three-star class with the Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Cass.

Foley, who is based at Ger O’Neill’s Castlefield Sporthorses in Co Kilkenny, rode the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Cassidee for his boss and Jim O’Neill who bred the gelding.

The pair were the fastest of 30 clear rounds from 76 starters in a time of 65.74 seconds to take the top spot.

Frenchman Julien Epaillard finished second with Caracole de la Roque, while Galway’s Michael Duffy slotted into third place with Evito, a 12-year-old gelding by Berlin who is owned by Miranda Gachoud.

Duffy and Evito went one better the following day when runner-up in the three-star 1.30m, cleat in 57.98, just fractions slower than British winner Helen Rees and Bianca du Rouet (0/ 57.76).

Seamus Hughes Kennedy was also in action at the venue and he won Friday’s one-star 1.25m class with his mother Clare’s seven-year-old gelding ESI Jet Set. By Balou du Rouet out of the Quidam Junior II-sired Cyndara, he was bred by Ennisnag Stud.

Longford’s Aisling Byrne continues her good form after a remarkable come back for a near career-ending injury.

With her 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Wellview Lucy (by Wellview Cedric), she finished second, third and sixth last week. They were second in Sunday’s 1.10m two-phase class when one of 14 double clear rounds in 29.39 seconds.