IN a perfect tribute to the late Noel Cawley, his home-bred Laurina was named the six-year-old Cruising National Champion and was awarded the Michael Moran Perpetual Trophy on Sunday morning at the Dublin Horse Show.

Winner of the five-year-old equivalent last year, as well at the Irish Breeders’ Classic, the mare is by Stakkato Gold out of Rincarina (Cruising), who won this class in 2010.

She was ridden by Leah Stack who is based at Ballypatrick Stables in Co Tipperary. Commenting on her mount after the win, Stack said: “Ah look she just keeps getting better. She’s one in a million. You’d be hard pushed to find one cleverer than her.

“She deserves this win so much, and for her mother (Rincarina), who was one of Noel’s favourites, to win the exact same class all those years ago is fantastic. It’s so lovely, you couldn’t make it up.

“I was third to go so I had to give it a really good rattle. I set off at a good pace and I took out a stride to the second last and the last and apart from that she just had to keep up a good pace and keep everything really tight.

“Niamh (McEvoy) was close to me in time and I didn’t even realise that she’d had a pole down. She was in straight after me. I was looking back from the gate and I just saw the time 37.63 and thought ‘oh thank God she didn’t beat me’, I didn’t even see the four faults on the board.

“The track was quite big so when everyone was going at that pace I think it was the cleverest horse that won. She’s just brilliant, she’s so clever. When you put her under pressure she really rises to it. She loves the main ring in Dublin. She’s hilarious. She’d let on that she’s very spooky but the fact is she’s brave and wants to do her job. She’s quirky but she’s funny.”

Proud

Stack added: “She also won the Broodmare futurity class. Noel spent 20 years trying to win it and she won it for him this year. He’d be so proud of her.

“The plan now is the Breeders’ Classic next week and then Lanaken again, hopefully. I’m so grateful to Lisa (Cawley) for letting me have the privilege of riding her, and to Greg and all the team at Ballypatrick who are always so supportive.”

Just seven of the 16 starters made it through to the jump-off. First to go against the clock was Barry O’Connor’s Dutch-bred mare Monalisa H. Ridden by Jenny Rankin the pair had two fences down to finish in seventh place.

Marguerite Ryan’s Mondavi (Tyson x Warrenstown You 2), bred by Ronan Tynan and ridden by Jack Ryan, had four faults in 38.87 for fifth place.

Stack was next. A foot-perfect round, the only double clear of the class, and just for good measure turned out to be the fastest time of the competition (37.40), secured them the win. Stack’s Ballypatrick teammate Niamh McEvoy was fourth in riding Sarah Tredennick’s mare BP Tiny Dancer (Plot Blue x Concord) bred by GBBS Ltd. The duo were unlucky to have the second part of the double down for four in 37.63 and the runner-up spot.

Ennisnag Stud and Andrew Hughes’ stallion ESI Lucius (Cardento x Cavalier), ridden by Harry Wood had one fence down in 39.64 for sixth place.

John Mulligan and Bernard Reynolds’ gelding Kathleen’s Candy Clover (Sligo Candy Boy), bred by Kathleen O’Reilly, also had a single fence down in a good time of 38.13 for third place.

Last to go, Patrick Hickey and Silverteal Indigo (Emerald Van’T Ruytershof x Lux Z), owned by GRS Bloodstock and bred by Paschal and Simon McCarthy, managed to match Mulligan’s time exactly so divided third place.