THIS statement by Richard Sheane is an impressive one, and indeed Diamond Roller features prominently among Ireland’s proven event horse sires. He is an upstanding athletic stallion by High Roller (Cavalier Royale) out of the well related Joes Lurgan Lady by Flagmount Diamond.
Carrying a superb performance pedigree, he is out a full sister to the international show jumper Special Diamond (1.60m), while his siblings include the international event horse Purbeck (Tim Price). In addition, both sire and dam’s pedigree (unrecorded in places) feature the thoroughbred sires Peacock (sire of the Olympic event horse Ringwood Cockatoo), the grade A thoroughbred show jumper Majestic Streak, and back further, the influential Snuff Box.
Diamond Roller is listed on Horse Telex as having 53.7% thoroughbred blood.
From limited opportunities, his stock has proved both talented and commercial. At the Goresbridge For Gold sale last year, Cooley Corraghy Diamond realised €25,000, while another three-year-old made €10,500 at Monart. The filly Rock and Roller was the top price filly at Cavan Elite sale in 2012, before progressing to sell for €23,000 at the Go For Gold sale the following year.
According to stallion owners Brian and John Kearney, Diamond Roller suits a quality, average-sized mare with some thoroughbred blood. He injects scope, temperament, jump, and a special canter.
Top progeny
Diamond Roller is best known as the sire of the 2017 Blenheim CCI3* winner Cooley Cross Border (CCI5*), ridden by the American rider Kim Severson. On the back of his success, Severson has since purchased several more Diamond Roller stock including the up and coming Cooley Criminal Mind and Cooley Corraghy Diamond.
Professional producer and international event rider Nicky Roncoroni currently has two by the sire in her yard, among which is the highly rated Hero Call.
“I have found the two horses that I have by Diamond Roller to be extremely talented individuals – and what I would call serious horses for serious riders. They are good looking, conformationally correct and with excellent limb. They have all the traits I would look for in horses that I hope would progress to compete at the upper levels in either eventing or show jumping.”
Leading British event horse agent Susie Pragnell, comments: “Diamond Roller’s offspring are bold, scopey, excellent jumpers. His son Dream Roller, who I sold, successfully evented before turning to pure show jumping. He is now jumping 1.40m classes showing the scope to go on.”
Among his other event success stories are Cooley Roller Coaster (CCI3*- L), ridden by British international Emily Chandler, and the amateur-ridden Midnight Roller Coaster (CCI3*-L). The same owner/rider Alison Lidstone also campaigns the Millstreet CCI2*YH-bound Twilight Roller Coaster, as well as the younger Starlight Roller Coaster. Other include Baby Roller (CCI 2*-L J), ridden by Hollie Smith; The Diamond Gambler (CCI2*) ridden by Flora Harris, the exciting Hero Call (2015) ridden by Nicky Roncoroni, and Ballyneety Fernhill First (2015), now based in Italy.
Sire of jumpers
Diamond Roller is also a sire of jumpers, and featuring are the 1.40m horse Dream Roller (Paul Sims) and the grade A 1.40m gelding Accidental Diamond (John Floody). Others include Rock and Roller (CCI1* and CSI2*), ridden by Francesca Malaspina (ITA).
Contact details
Sire: Diamond Roller, standing in Dundalk, Co Louth
Contact: John Kearney at 0044 (0)7921 561211 or Brian Kearney 0044 (0)7775 449490.
Email: Briank92@hotmail.co.uk