IT has been a busy spell in the eventing world between the recent release of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) rankings for 2024, their young horse eventing championships hosted at Le Lion d’Angers and, at the top end of the eventing scale, another five-star win for Ballaghmor Class.

Last week’s article focussed on the WBFSH rankings, where the ISH eventing studbook placed second to the Holsteiner Verband – this week, we also take a look at the Hippomundo rankings, where the ISH studbook is on course to pick up one title this year.

Unlike the show jumping equivalent for young horses at Lanaken, there were no medals for Irish-breds at this year’s WBFSH championships at Le Lion d’Angers, where the talking point was the prominence of a pair of Chilli Morning clones.

Chilli Morning VI, one of three clones, owned and bred by Christopher and Lisa Stone, won the seven-year-old championship, while a second – Chilli Morning II – was placed in the top-10 (sixth).

Michael Callery is the the leading eventing breeder on the 2024 Hippomundo rankings

Show jumping pedigree

Another double was recorded by I’m Special de Muze (Emerald van’t Ruytershof), the sire of two of the six-year-old Le Lion medallists: Killer Queen and Clawfinger.

Strong show jumping pedigrees were plentiful among the 2024 finalists and four Irish Sport Horses finished in the top-10: the Ronan Rothwell-bred Boleybawn Oliva in the six-year-old final and then Calida Spice, MGH Hildare Harlequin and Inquisitor, bred by Eamon Killalea, Padraig McCarthy and Bridget McGing respectively, in the seven-year-olds.

A trio of seven-year-olds in the top-10 could also point to the fact that the Irish Sport Horse matures later than more precocious types and the evergreen Ballaghmor Class is certainly proof, winning his fourth five-star event at 17 years of age last weekend.

The Kate Jarvey-bred Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail x Rock King) won the same competition at Maryland International last year with Austin O’Connor and it proved to be third time lucky for Oliver Townend on Sunday.

ISH dominant

Second at the inaugural running of the five-star in 2021 with Cooley Master Class (ISH), and third in 2022 with As Is, the Yorkshireman finished third again last year, this time with Cooley Rosalent. He has now won both five-star events in North America in the same year – Kentucky back in the early summer with Cooley Rosalent and now Ballaghmor Class – and, on both occasions, with Irish Sport Horses.

Townend and Ballaghmor Class were always likely to be in the shake-up, regardless of the size of the field. However, it was surprising to see just eight finishers, the same as at Adelaide CCI5*-L, the southern hemisphere’s only five-star event.

Five-star runners would be expected to be more plentiful across North America and Europe – it’s also one of the rare opportunities for owners to win substantial prize money in an expensive sport. However, an Olympic year tends be more off-kilter, with likely Paris horses staked out for selection.

France again hosts another event this weekend: the remaining five-star event of the year at Pau. Winners from Pau and Maryland will bank some early WBFSH points for the 2025 rankings.

Hallie Coon riding six-year-old Boleybawn Oliva, bred by Ronan Rithwell, in the cross-country at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Le Lion \ Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

Prize money rankings

The prize money-based Hippomundo rankings run until December 31st and, regardless of the Pau result, there will be no major changes in the eventing rankings.

Greenacres Special Cavalier, bred by Michael Callery, has a firm hold on the eventing horse title after her Badminton win this year with Caroline Powell; the ISH studbook cannot be caught in this category and another strong result sees five Irish breeders among the overall top-10 eventing breeders.

Irish-based stallions, of various denominations, also fare well in the eventing sire’s division. An intriguing sight is Cavalier Royale, foaled in 1978, still featuring strongly in the sire rankings – the use of artificial insemination (AI) and now, it appears, cloning, have made their mark.

Will the Chilli Morning clones match their Olympic, world championships and Badminton winning namesake? Another decade will tell if they can match his success or that one-of-a-kind horse: Ballaghmor Class, now surely heading toward ‘Greatest Of All Time’ fame for his impressive string of top-five results at five-star level.

WBFSH Young Event Horse Champions 2024

Six-year-olds

Gold: Killer Queen (HOLST) by I’m Special de Muze (BWP) – Princess L (HOLST, by Calido (HOLST). Breeder: Morena Petersen. Rider: Merel Blom-Hulsman (NED).

Silver: Norway van de Haar (KWPN) by High Shutterfly (KWPN) – Jessica (NRPS), by DTS Sammartini. Breeder: H.J Verheul. Rider: Max Warburton (GBR).

Bronze: Clawfinger (SWB) by I’m Special de Muze (BWP) – Currancy (SWB) by Click And Cash (HOLST). Breeder: Emilie Andersson & Olivia Lindberg. Rider: Anna Freskgard (SWE).

Top-10 Irish Sport Horse

Fifth – Boleybawn Oliva (fifth). Jorado (KWPN) – C-Jumps, by Cicero van de Paemel (ZANG). Breeder: Ronan Rothwell. Rider: Hallie Coon (USA).

Seven-year-olds

Gold – Chilli Morning VI (SHBGB), by Phantomic (TB) – Koralie (Berlin-Brand), by Kolibri (MECKL). Breeder: Christopher & Lisa Stone. Rider: Gemma Stevens (GB).

Silver – Kantango (AES), by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve (BWP) – Eclaire (BWP), by Winningmood (BWP). Breeder: Kevin Sleap. Rider: Kitty King (GBR).

Bronze – Mr Cookie Time (KWPN), by Casago II (HOLST) – Cumarna (KWPN), by Grafiet (KWPN). Breeder: C. Schaafsma & N. Eggink. Rider: Samantha Lissington (NZL).

Top-10 Irish Sport Horses

Fifth – Calida Spice (ISH), by Tyson (KWPN) – Red Diamond Spice (ISH), by King Henry (ID). Breeder: Eamon Killalea. Rider: Lizzie Baugh (GBR).

Seventh – MGH Hildare Harlequin (ISH), by Firkov du Rouet (KWPN) – Fair Dinkum (AES) by Luidam (KWPN). Breeder: Padraig McCarthy. Rider: Danielle McCormack (GBR).

10th – Inquisitor (ISH) (TIH), by Coroner (TB) – Diamond Fleck (ISH), by Coolcorran Cool Diamond (ISH). Breeder: Bridget McGing. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRE).

Did you know?

  • It was a good weekend for Kylemore Stud’s Tyson between Calida Spice finishing as best of the ISH seven-year-olds and Just Be Gentle in the prize money for Christian Kukuk in the Longines Global Champions Tour at Rabat.
  • Lillet 3, an eight-year-old half-sister to the six-year-old champion Killer Queen, is by Belmont House Stud’s SIEC Livello and she is already competing at 3* level with Germany’s Andreas Dibowksi.
  • Bronze medallist Mr Cookie Time was originally named Muppet. The Holsteiner is by the Casall ASK son Casago II, based at the Hickey family’s Garryrichard Stud, where GRS Lady Amaro was bred.
  • Inquisitor, bred by Bridget McGing, was the best-placed Traditional Irish Horse (TIH) at Le Lion d’Angers this year.
  • The late Chilli Morning was the first stallion to win Badminton CCI5*-L (2015) and, with William Fox-Pitt, was a member of the British team at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy (individual bronze, team silver) and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Originally named Pearl Harbor 2, Chilli Morning retired from the sport after the Rio Olympics. Among the Berlin-Brandenburg-registered stallion’s eventing offspring to date is the five-star eventer Chilli Knight, also competed by Gemma Stevens, who won the one-off Bicton CCI5*-L in 2021.
  • Another Chilli Morning clone – Chilli Morning II – placed sixth in the seven-year-old final too with Germany’s Julia Krajewski, who originally produced Paris Olympic gold medallist fischerChipmunk FRH.
  • Coup de Coup Dudevin, the 2022 Maryland CCI5*-L winner, finished seventh twice at the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses young eventing horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers (2018, 2019).
  • This year’s winner Ballaghmor Class was the top-ranked event horse in the Hippomundo rankings last year.
  • Their Maryland victory was his fourth five-star win, having twice won Burghley (2017, 2023) and also Kentucky (2021).
  • Ballaghmor Class and Townend were members of the British gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics. This year, an interrupted early season meant his owners – Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan – and Townend made the decision to withdraw the horse for consideration for the British team for Paris.
  • Bred by the late Noel Hickey in Brittas, Co Limerick, Ballaghmor Class or ‘Thomas’ is by Kedrah House Stud’s Courage II.
  • The Holsteiner stallion – out of Cavalier Royale’s full-sister Vamara – only stood there for less than three years before his death.
  • The Irish Sport Horse studbook has topped the Hippomundo eventing rankings each year since the database’s inception in 2015.
  • Greenacres Special Cavalier, Cooley Rosalent, Ballaghmor Class, Capels Hollow Drift and Cavalier Crystal (Jack of Diamonds (SWB) – Cavalier Iris, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Thomas Horgan) are the top-five earners for the ISH studbook.
  • Best current average sum won amongst the top-10 eventing studbooks in 2024? That would be Sport Horse Breeding (GB) on €2,007 from 150 horses on the Hippomundo database.

    • Maryland international top-10 bloodlines

    1 – Ballaghmor Class (ISH), by Courage II (HOLST) – Kilderry Place. Breeder: Noel Hickey. Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR).

    2 – Falco (HANN), by Cardenio 2 (HOLST) – Witta (WESTF), by Weinberg (WESTF). Breeder: Norbert Nowak. Rider: Tim Price (NZL).

    3 – Gallileo Nieuwmoed (KWPN), by Carambole (HOLST) – Sjaloma (KWPN), by Harcos. Breeder: J.W & A.P Jurius. Rider: David Doel (GBR).

    4 – Sorocaima (TB), by Rock Hard Ten – Sankobasi, by Pulpit. Breeder: Machmer Hall & Poindexter Thoroughbreds. Rider: Bruce Davidson Jnr (USA).

    5 – Cola 26 (HOLST), Catoki (HOLST) – Vanessa XII (HOLST), by Contender (HOLST). Breeder: Peter Böge. Rider: Isabelle Upton (AUST).

    6 – Twilightslastgleam (TB), by National Anthem – Royal Child, by Northern Baby. Breeder: Nina Gardner. Rider: Jenny Seville.

    7 – Corbett (HOLST), by Corrido 4 (HOLST) – Tina VII (HOLST), by Clearway (HOLST). Breeder: Doris Schimmer. Rider: Emily Hamel (USA).

    8 – LLC Barnaby (ISH), by Guy Cavalier (ISH) – Lady Tanjour (ISH), by Rafael (KWPN). Breeder: Martin T. Collins. Rider: Lillian Heard (USA).

    Hippomundo rankings

    Top-10 event horses

    1 – Greenacres Special Cavalier (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) – Greenacres Touch (ISH), by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Michael Callery. Rider: Caroline Powell (NZL). €137,817.

    2 – Lordships Graffalo (SHBGB), by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz (TRAK) – Cornish Queen (WNTR), by Rock King (AES). Breeder: Lordships Stud, Writtle College. Rider: Ros Canter (GBR). €129,676.

    3 – Cooley Rosalent (ISH), by Valent (KWPN) – Bellaney Jewel (TB), by Roselier (TB). Breeder: Woods Rosbotham. Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR). €123,808.

    4 – Ballaghmor Class (ISH), by Courage II (HOLST) – Kilderry Place. Breeder: Noel Hickey. Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR). €91,606.

    5 – Vitali (HOLST), by Contender (HOLST) – Noble Lady I (HOLST), by Heraldik (TB). Breeder: Günther Fielmann. Rider: Tim Price (NZL). €89,547.

    6 – RCA Patron Saint (SHBGB), by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz (TRAK) – Summers Mist. Breeder: Richard Ames. Rider: Lucy Latta (IRL). €74,884.

    7 – Quindiva (OLD), by Quintender 2 (HOLST) – Ruby Roller (ISH), by High Roller (ISH). Breeder: Cliodhna Carroll. Rider: Alexander Bragg (GBR). €71,167.

    8 – JL Dublin (HOLST), by Diarado (HOLST) – Zarinna (HOLST), by Canto (HOLST). Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze. Rider: Tom McEwen (GBR). €64,280.

    9 – Valmy Biats (SF), by Orlando (KWPN) – Aurelie du Prieure (SF), by Hadj A (AA). Breeder: Philippe Brivois. Rider: Yasmin Ingham (GBR). €58,749.

    10 – Capels Hollow Drift (ISH), by Shannondale Sarco (BWP) – Lucky Crest (ISH), by Lucky Gift (TB). Breeder: Jenny Glynn. Rider: Tom Jackson (GBR).

    TOP-10 EVENT SIRES

    NAME # progeny €

    1. Birkhof’s Grafenstolz (TRAK) 51 246,306

    2. Diarado (HOLST) 57 179,428

    3. Cavalier Royale (HOLST). 1 137,817

    4. Valent (KWPN) 4 126,465

    5. Courage II (HOLST) 1 91,606

    6. Contender (HOLST) 3 89,547

    7. Quintender 2 (HOLST) 6 72,857

    8. Orlando (KWPN) 5 59,126

    9. Shannondale Sarco (BWP) 20 57,727

    10. Jack Of Diamonds (SWB) 11 55,039

    TOP-10 EVENTING STUDBOOKS

    NAME # horses €

    1. IRISH SPORT HORSE 1,065 915,588

    2. HOLSTEINER 306 537,874

    3. SELLE FRANÇAIS 543 329,214

    4. SPORT HORSE BREEDING (GB) 150 301,011

    5. KWPN 426 199,509

    6. TB 217 154,520

    7. HANNOVERIAN 288 153,414

    8. OLDENBURG 85 102,278

    9. ANGLO EUROPEAN STUDBOOK 68 89,932

    10. AUSTRALIAN WARMBLOOD. 48 68,892

    Top-10 eventing breeders

    1. Michael Callery (IRE)

    2. Lordships Stud, Writtle College

    3. J.W (Woods) Rosbotham (IRE)

    4. Noel Hickey (IRE)

    5. Günther Fielmann

    6. Richard Ames (IRE)

    7. Cliodhna Carroll (IRE)

    8. Volker Göttsche-Götze

    9. Philippe Brivois

    10. Jenny Glynn (IRE)

    TOP-10 IRISH EVENTING BREEDERS

    1. Michael Callery

    2. JW Rosbotham

    3. Noel Hickey

    4. Cliodhna Carroll

    5. Jenny Glynn

    6. Thomas Horgan

    7. Sinead Healion

    8. Raymond Carroll

    9. Noel Russell

    10. Martin T. Collins

    By the numbers

    €651,961 – won by Ballaghmor Class since 2015.

    $100,000/€91,435 – Ballaghmor Class’ latest pay cheque at Maryland last Sunday.

    2023 – the most recent year Irish Sport Horses were in the Le Lion d’Angers medals, when HSH Connor (Connor 48) and Dassett Arthalent (Valent), bred by Justin Burke and Catherine Abbott respectively, won silver.

    50% – of Hippomundo’s top-10 eventing breeders are Irish.

    8 – finishers at Adelaide and Maryland International this year.

    7 – five-star three-day events held around the world: Adelaide, Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, Luhmühlen, Maryland and Pau.

    6 – of the top-10 event sires are from German studbooks: Holsteiner and Trakehner Verbands.

    5 – Irish-based stallions on the Hippomundo top-10 eventing sires leaderboard.

    4 – Irish Sport Horses in the Hippomundo top-10 event horses.

    3 – top-three places with Irish Sport Horses at Maryland International for Oliver Townend.

    2 – of Hippomundo’s top-10 ISH event horses in 2024 - Cooley Rosalent and Ballaghmor Class - competed by Townend.

    1 – place occupied by the Irish Sport Horse studbook in Hippomundo’s eventing category since the rankings began.