CLARE Abbott was doubly delighted to win the DAFM Studbook Series EI100 for five-year-olds on the Irish Sport Horse gelding MT Kenobis Touch, as she landed the equivalent class last year on the bay’s Cazaan half-sister, MT Luxaan, who is now competing in the USA.

The Co Down rider adopted the same tactics on both youngsters by completing on her winning dressage score which, in this instance, was 26.4. Two other combinations finished on their sub-30 penalty flatwork marks on Sunday to place second and third, namely Caitlin Woods on her father Michael’s ISH gelding Greygrove Delight (28.6) and Sarah Dowley with the traditionally-bred Manhatton 19 (29.6). Costly time penalties saw Sadhbh Bolger drop from fourth (29.9) to ninth with Grantstown Imperial (36.7).

“MT Kenobis Touch is just a wonderful horse,” said Abbott of the winning Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars gelding, who was bred by her partner Gareth Carlisle, out of the Lux Z mare, Lux So Easy.

“He’s big, but so rideable and wise for his age.

"It’s been lovely for us having him win the five-year-old final, following his sister who won it last year.

"We wanted to finish the league, as there’s great prize money, but really he was ready to move up a class at this stage of the season. I am delighted that Jackie and David Wright joined Gareth in ownership of ‘Thumper’, as we hope to keep him for the very top end of the sport.

“Kilcoltrim Cooley (second in the six-year-old final) is a totally different ride to MT K. He’s small, fast and sharp. He’s usually a brilliant jumper – that’s the only pole he’s had this year – and hasn’t put a foot wrong all season, so we are thrilled. He’s improved so much and we’ve high hopes for him too.”

Two horses were withdrawn before the cross-country phase in this 15-runner class. A rider unseating resulted in one elimination and just one other pairing erred across the country.

Development Series

The first leg of this year’s DAFM Eventing Development Series, delivered by Horse Sport Ireland, takes place tomorrow, Sunday, September 15th, at Lisgarvan House, where there are good entries for the four, five and six-year-old horse classes.

The series is open to all horses registered in a Studbook, main or supplementary section, with a specific breed documented within. This can include main section studbook equines or supplementary section studbook equines. Ponies must also have a studbook passport with a breed recorded to be eligible to compete and receive prize money. Horses and ponies with Identity Documents are not eligible to compete.

Each fixture in the series, which can be run as either Arena Eventing or combined training (see the HSI website for full details), is a standalone leg, there is no final.