Susan Finnerty

MULLENTINE CAVALIER

2000. 168cms

IHB classification: NA1.

CAVALIER Royale’s popularity continues unabated and Francis Greene will hope that the Holsteiner sire’s reputation will add further appeal to his new acquisition Mullentine Cavalier. This half-brother to Corbeagh Luxor, the 2014 Vilamoura Grand Prix winner, also produces commercial dual-purpose types for the sales ring and made the recent move to Greene’s Kilkee base from his previous midlands base at Newtown Stud.

Although Mullentine Cavalier’s own show jumping career was cut short due to injury, his half-siblings have built up their own performance records. The immediate family includes the Grade A show jumping mare Corbeagh Touch Down and Corbeagh Breeze.

The family’s star performer is undoubtedly another half-brother in Corbeagh Luxor, who won the €60,000 1.50m Grand Prix at Vilamoura last March. It was the then nine-year-old’s first season at that level with Dermott Lennon last year, when the pair were also in action at La Baule and Lanaken.

From small books of mares, Mullentine Cavalier had made a promising start at stud and has already produced a number of show jumping and eventing youngsters. The Classic Carrig and Rupert Diamond are two of his promising offspring, with the latter getting off the the mark at Ballinagore for amateur owner Dave Collins.

Cross-channel exports Mullentine Forever and Drumcill Bossy Boots are competing on the British eventing circuit and another of Mullentine Cavalier’s progeny to make a promising start to the 2015 season is the eight-year-old Springtime Cavalier. Bought as a foal from Mullentine Stud, he has successfully competed in both eventing, where he won at one outing on his dressage score of 18.5 and in Discovery and Newcomers show jumping classes.

Adding to Mullentine Cavalier’s commercial appeal are recent sales results. A five-year-old gelding sold for €8,200 at the March sales in Goresbridge last year, while a three-year-old colt sold for €6,100 at the Cavan International Performance sale in April 2012.

His sire Cavalier Royale was an exceptional dual-purpose sire who produced world-calibre show jumping and eventing winners. Chippison delivered the best Irish result with Marie Burke at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen and other well-known performers included Rich Fellers’ McGuinness, Marion Hughes’s Heritage Transmission and John Whitaker’s Casino.

Cavalier Royale excelled as an eventing sire, topping the inaugural WBFSH rankings in 2008 and in recent Olympic, World Equestrian Games and European championships, his medal winners have included Clayton Fredericks’ World Cup winner Ben Along Time and Mary King’s British team stalwarts, Imperial Cavalier and Call Again Cavalier.

With his combination of the best Holstein, Selle Français and thoroughbred lines, such as Cor De La Bryere, Furioso and Ladykiller, Cavalier Royale nicked particularly well with solid Irish mare lines. Mullentine Cavalier’s dam Corbeagh Vella was by the busy thoroughbred sire Ballinvella whose show jumping progeny number Macho Man, one of Shane Breen’s earlier international horses, and James Fisher’s Bowriver Queen.

Again, like Cavalier Royale, he also produced a number of four-star eventers such as Jacana, Richard Walker’s individual silver medallist at the 1991 European championships at Punchestown and Oliver Townend’s Topping.

Mullentine Cavalier’s second dam Kilfarrisery Cherry is by Carnival Night. Yet another versatile sire, his best-known show jumping offspring was David Broome’s Mr Ross, who recorded team bronze and silver medals at the 1982 World Show Jumping championships and 1983 European championships.

Dublin was another winning venue for the pair, who also won the 1981 King George V Gold Cup, as they pulled off back-to-back wins in the World Cup qualifiers held at Dublin Indoor International.

Carnival Night features in the damline of Irish Nations Cup team stalwart Carling King and the 2014 Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh.

Going further back to Sunny Light, who sired Carroll’s Spotlight and Lismore, Mullentine Cavalier’s damline also includes two more show jumping relatives in Moonstruck and Mr Fixit.

Check out Mullentine Cavalier on Lisgreen Stud Farm’s new Facebook page.

LISGREEN STUD FARM

Contact: Francis Greene,Lisdeen, Kilkee, Co Clare

Tel: 087 2663656

Email: fgreene6430@gmail.com