JUNIOR rider Timmy Brennan and the fabulous GCS Ita added another victory to their already impressive haul when winning the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix leg at Killossery Lodge Stud last Sunday.

The pair began their campaign with a win at JAG Equestrian in the first round at the start of February. They then went on to claim third place the following weekend in Cavan.

Cavan was once again the venue for their next success when they finished runners-up in the fourth round.

One week later they secured another second place, this one coming in Tipperary last weekend before they, once again, proved best of the bunch with their seventh round win in Killossery Lodge.

Speaking after the win, Timmy’s father Tim said; “They are flying now, but that will be the last one here for a while as we are heading away next Saturday to Italy for three weeks.

“I think she made up the time early on, she’s quick across the ground and she did 10 strides from fence one to two, where all our other horses did it in 11 or 12 and they finished in third and fourth.

“We are bringing four away with us. GCS Ita and Diadema Della Caccia (Diamant De Semilly x Cardento) for Timmy and Eskola M (Singapore x Mermus R) and Limestone Briarhill Lui (Kings Cornet x Luidam) for Eoin. They all went well in Killossery so we are hopeful of some good results in Italy.”

Bred by Timmy’s parents Tim and Olivia, GCS Ita is by OBOS Quality out of MHS Attraction. MHS Attraction was bred by Tim’s mother Ita and, after proving herself in the ring as a youngster, was sold to Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya back in 2018.

Alvarez Moya brought her up to 1.60m and she won her first class out at this level before being sidelined by injury. She came back from this setback to compete successfully in a couple of more shows before she suffered a colic and then sadly passed away.

An embryo transfer herself, MHS Attraction had three daughters in 2014. They included GCS Ita, one by Kannan who is a broodmare for the Brennans, and also one by Vigo D’Arsouilles named GCS Athena.

GCS Athena was sold to Canadian Amy Miller and they are currently enjoying plenty of success together.

GCS Ita’s first foal GCS Venus (by Luidam) won the four-year-olds at Barnadown in September 2021 under Vincent Byrne and was then sold to Irish International rider Niall Talbot last year.

According to Brennan, they have a few more youngsters out of GCS Ita coming through; “We have a two-year-old by Pegase Van’t Ruytershof, and two yearlings by Livello (who Cameron Hanley rode to 1.60m) and she is due another by Livello this year.

“We also have a four and a five-year-old out of GCS Athena by Aganix who look really good. We have held on to all of these for the lads (Timmy and Eoin) so hopefully they work out well.”

Colm Fitzpatrick [AA] (YR) and Maretto Flight, winners of JS Horse Trucks 1.10m at Killossery Lodge Stud \ Alex Perry Jumpinaction.net

Competitive action

Some 23 starters lined out for the round at Killossery Lodge, with 11 combinations making it through to the second round against the clock.

First to go, Sven Hadley and the eight-year-old stallion Phenomene Bleu VDM (Diamant De Semilly x Nabab De Reve) provided the first double clear in 48.04 to set the pace.

Next in, Jack Murphy riding MHS Oklahoma (Kannan x Mister Blue) had one fence down for four faults.

Eoin Brennan and Eskola were third. They left all the fences up in a time of 41.45 which would be good enough for eventual third place.

Cathal Daniels and Cappog Tomy also had a single fence down, while Sven Hadley and his second mount Castlefield Blue (Plot Blue x Puissance) finished in 45.11 for sixth place.

Timmy Brennan was next to go. He guided GCS Ita to a foot-perfect round to produce the first sub-40 second round in 39.06 which would be good enough to secure him the win.

Sven Hadley, aboard Carroll Produce Ltd’s Dutch-bred gelding Fabuleu VD Watertoren, left all the fences intact in a time of 39.17 which would be good enough for the runner-up spot.

Edward Doyle Jnr and Quick Bill produced a second round clear, stopping the clock at 42.40 for fifth place.

Eoin Brennan and Limestone Briarhill Lui were the penultimate pair in. They had two fences down to see them out of the running on this occasion.

Last to go was class leader Timmy Brennan and his second mount, the eight-year-old Diadema Della Cassia; they left all the poles in their cups in 41.54 for fourth place in the final line-up. The next and ninth round of the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour takes place at Cavan tomorrow (Sunday, March 19th).