JUST looking at a cross-section of Broodmare Futurity prize winners, drawn from the top-placed young mares in the Dublin performance classes, is an indication of how Irish Sport Horse breeding is being fast-tracked.

The result was also a fitting tribute to pioneer performance breeder, the late Dr Noel Cawley who bred this year’s Futurity champion Laurina. With Leah Stack on board, she won the six-year-old championship named after her grandsire Cruising, a stallion used extensively by her breeder.

For good measure, this was a back-to-back Dublin title as Laurina won last year’s Flexible-five-year-old championship, the Irish Breeders’ Classic five/six-year-olds title and was selected for Lanaken.

Her Hanoverian sire Stakkato Gold produced Kevin Babington’s Dublin Grand Prix runner-up Shorapur, plus this year’s Aachen Grand Prix winner Stargold for Marcus Ehning. Laurina’s dam, the traditionally-bred Rincarina and her full-sister Solerina are from a Cruising-Diamond Lad line.

Another Irish contender at Lanaken last year was the six-year-old champion there: ABC Saving Grace. Her Co Carlow owner-breeder Pat Kehoe has availed of the Futurity sponsor Horse Sport Ireland embryo transfer scheme. ABC Bobby Jean, a Kannan daughter of his Lanaken champion was bought at Goresbridge by John Burchill, won the three-year-old loose performance filly final and ended Horse Show Week as the Broodmare Futurity reserve champion.

Third place in the Roland Metz and Thomas Schönig-judged championship went to last year’s Futurity winner Lorraine MacGuinness’ Gone Girl VB. This Emerald van’t Ruytershof grey mare added last week’s Flexible five-year-old championship to an already impressive Dublin record.

Bred by Vincent and Eleanor Byrne, her Cobra-Kings Servant damline includes Vincent’s 1.60m horse Mr Rockefeller.