MORE than a few tears were shed on Sunday when Millstreet debutant Piggy March landed this featured long format four-star class on Jo and James Lambert’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Coolparks Sarco as, until her career-ending fall at Badminton last year, the 2011 bay was partnered by Nicola Wilson.

On 23.2 penalties, Coolparks Sarco was lying second after the dressage phase, judged by the ground jury of Britain’s Judy Hancock (C), Ireland’s Joanne Jarden (H) and New Zealand’s Andrew Bennie (B), as the lead was held by his stable-companion Halo (22). Second overall and first of the March pair to tackle the Mike Etherington-Smith-designed cross-county course on Saturday, Coolparks Sarco jumped around clear, picking up 7.2 time penalties to stay second, while Halo triggered a breakable device and, with 11 time penalties, dropped to sixth.

The lead at this stage passed to Britain’s Gemma Stevens on the ISH gelding Flash Cooley (29.1) with Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto lying third on the Selle Francais gelding Vinci de la Vigne (33.9). No one managed to beat the clock but New Zealand’s Muzi Pottinger jumped from 20th to fourth when just two seconds over the time on the unraced thoroughbred, Good Timing (34.5). From 30 starters, one combination retired, three were eliminated and one horse was withdrawn before Sunday’s second horse inspection.

Clear rounds over the James Tarrant-designed show jumping track were few and far between but, significantly, one was recorded by Ireland’s Camilla Speirs on BT Angelo which eventually saw her move up to fifth (46.1) having been lying 21st after dressage. Another clear was recorded by Pottinger with Good Timing which moved them from overnight fourth to third on 34.5, swopping places with Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne who had a fence down to complete on 37.9.

Having lowered two rails with Halo, March produced a foot-perfect round from Coolparks Sarco (30.4) who was then presented with the class when Stevens and Flash Cooley picked up four penalties for a total of 33.1.

“It has been a great first visit here,” said March. “This was my first time to do a four-star on Coolparks Sarco and, as we have low mileage as a combination, I didn’t want to press him for time across the country. I found the first part of the course had a lot of twisty bits, which slowed us down as he is a big galloper, and I think in most classes, riders enjoyed it more in the back field. However, I think Mike (Etherington-Smith) is one of the best course designers around and the track was educational.

“Coolparks Sarco will come on a lot for this. He has changed a lot in the last year and will improve again with more mileage. He will progress to a five-star and perhaps Pau rather than Burghley. It’s great that the owners are here to see this win and I appreciate their support as I only have the ride because of sad circumstances.”

The winner was bred in Co Galway by Michael Burke who attended Millstreet on Saturday with his daughter Claire and Michael Joyce who helps out with the family’s three broodmares and their stock.

Burke’s son Joe, an equine veterinary surgeon, was present on Sunday with his girlfriend, Lucy Kelleher, and it was he who told us that they have retained a two-year-old full-sister to the winner, Coolpark Creeferro, and are breeding from another full-sister, Coolpark Diamonds Sarco. That 2011 mare had no foal this year unlike the trio’s dam, Coolpark Lady Diamond, who had a colt by Sligo Candy Boy who is described by Joe as “a cracker”.

Coolparks Sarco was sold as an unbroken three-year-old to former international show jumper turned racehorse trainer George Stewart who, from his Lisburn base, produced him on the jumping and eventing scenes the following season. He was campaigned sparingly that year by Jonny Mulligan before being sold into England through Michaela Tomlinson. He made his British Eventing debut in July 2017 under Vicky Brake, with the ride passing first to Andrew Nicholson at the start of the 2019 season and then to Wilson two years later.