THERE can hardly be a more ideal fixture for former racehorse classes than the Tattersalls Ireland July Show which, following a two-year Covid break, returned to the showing schedule last weekend.

There were two classes dedicated to former track performers on Saturday and both were sponsored by Treo Eile, the not-for-profit organisation providing assistance to racehorse trainers and owners who wish to rehome and retrain horses who have retired from the track.

The first class to come before British judges Louise Daly (ride) and Pippa Moon (conformation) was the open retrained class where Smokey Bay, who was second here in 2019, followed up his win at the recent Flavours Of Fingal Show under owner Ruth Cody.

The 14-year-old Definite Article gelding, who finished ninth of 10 on his only start in a Gowran bumper in March 2014, has blossomed in his second career although he had a late start to this year’s campaign as Cody, a manager in the Omni Park Shopping Centre in Santry, had problems with her jeep.

“Winning the golden ticket to qualify for Dublin with ‘Dave’ at the Flavours Of Fingal show on our first start this season was beyond my expectation so now I’ll have to get the tweeds out and give it a wiggle!

Celebrate

“My dad, Frank Tuohy, who is 88 this year, has stood at the side of the rings in Dublin watching and admiring the showing classes and parades of stallions for close on 50 years but has never had a direct interest in a horse inside the white rails.

“Dave has gifted that to us, our family and extended equestrian family this year and we will celebrate getting there by having a great day out.”

In this class, Co Donegal’s Oisín McCann finished second with Poetic Lord on whom he had placed sixth at Balmoral where he won the turn-out prize.

This 13-year-old British-bred Byron gelding won three times on the flat and once over hurdles.

Oisin enjoys racing as much as showing and made a telling remark about his horse: “Dan just loves the grass and goes so much better on it!”

Another 13-year-old gelding, the former Willie Mullins-trained Black Hercules won the novice retrained class under Co Kildare’s Lorna Murphy.

This Heron Island gelding was sold at Tattersalls Ireland as a yearling in 2010 by Spencer Hawkins who bred the bay out of the unraced Bob’s Return mare Annalecky, a half-sister to the four-time winner Indian Scout (by Phardante) among others.

“Black Hercules has only been to three or four shows this year,” said Murphy, mother of toddler Robert and an associate solicitor with Beauchamps. “He’s had a few places in open company, notably third in a huge class at Mullingar, but these novice classes are great, because they are a bit steadier and you don’t feel pressured to have them in a double bridle! We will now head to the RDS and hope for the best!”

Former international event rider Fiona Wentges, who represented Ireland at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, finished second here on Sea The Lion who she used to ride out on occasion when the 2011 Sea The Stars gelding was in training with Michael Halford for whom the bay won a 10-furlong Curragh maiden.

Then sold to jockey Ronan Whelan’s father Tom, Sea The Lion won five times on the flat when in the care of Jarleth Fahey for whom he last ran in August 2020. He is owned by Suzanne Fahey and Kathleen Whelan. Fiona heard from Treo Eile’s Anne O’Connor, who also used to work at Halford’s, that the horse wasn’t settling in retirement and so he moved to Co Westmeath.

Large riding horse

Thoroughbred horses took part in other classes at the show but none with more success than the former Henry de Bromhead-trained Milliner who won the large riding horse class under school teacher, Philippa Scott, whose family has a long association with racing.

“My cousin Brian Scott, who is one of the head lads in Henry de Bromhead’s yard, was given Milliner and asked us if would we like to take him,” said Philippa who, when not in school, rides out and leads up for her partner, trainer Thomas Coyle.

“We got him towards the end of last year and then gave him time to let down and started reschooling him. Dad and some of the helpers at home keep him ticking over lunging when I’m in Meath.”

Milliner, who was fourth in the Pertemps Final at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival on his last track start, was a late entry for the large riding horse class.

Scott was due to partner him in the novice racehorse class on Saturday but this clashed with the Connolly’s Red Mills Champion of Champions ridden horse final where she rode her Irish Draught gelding Ashtree Ard Diamond.