BELLINE Equestrian’s Richard Ames again had plenty to celebrate at Wednesday’s fourth leg of the Stepping Stones to Success League in Wexford Equestrian, generally referred to as ‘Viewing Day’. Videos of all jumping rounds were recorded and can be found on IrishSport.tv.

Ames owns the first three in the placings in the Childeric Saddles four-year-old class and, for good measure, also owns the Noel Dunne-ridden Kief Rhapsody who made it three-for-three in the five-year-old division where his Belline Foodys Out Of The Blue finished sixth under Ellie Toner.

Just back from France where she was manager of the Irish team at the Pony Dressage Nations’ Cup in Le Mans, Anne Marie Dunphy judged the flat work phase indoors while this week’s guest judge, Ger O’Neill, joined series regular Ian Fearon to assess the jumping phases.

Caitie Slater finished first and second in the four-year-old qualifier with Ames’ Irish Sport Horse mare Belline Special Lady (197.4 marks) and Belline Newton Douglas (196.2), a Belline Second Chance gelding. Robbie Kearns rounded off the top three with Ames’ ISH gelding Belline Jack The Lad (191), a bay son of Sligo Candy Boy.

Belline Special Lady, who heads the league table at present on 20 points ahead of stable companions Belline Newton Douglas (18) and Belline Jack The Lad (17), is by the thoroughbred sire Pointilliste and was bred in Co Kilkenny by Roberta Dowley out of the OBOS Quality 004 mare, Queen Victoria OBS.

“I was absolutely delighted with both of my horses but am also delighted for Robbie, Noel and Elle,” said Slater. “Belline has a very promising string of young horses that have proven to be quite consistent at Stepping Stones; it has been a great introduction to their competitive careers.

“The mare is an absolute dream to work with, she is very trainable, with a great mind, which is always a plus. I liked them both when they first came to the yard as three-year-olds olds and was keen to get the opportunity to produce them. They are smart animals who are keen to get on with the job.

“Once Stepping Stones is wrapped up, Belline Special Lady, alongside some of her stablemates, will go on a well-deserved break before being aimed at the Dublin qualifiers. All going well, this group of young horses will make their Eventing Ireland debuts towards the end of the season.”

League battle

As just two scores count going into Tuesday’s final, where points and a half are on offer, Kief Rhapsody’s position at the top of the Childeric five-year-old league standings doesn’t look as secure as one might expect for a horse that has won all three qualifiers he contested.

Ames’ ISH gelding by Sligo Candy Boy, who landed (205.1) Wednesday’s leg of the series under regular rider and producer Noel Dunne, is on 20 points, just two ahead of Tullibards No Needs Never and Baby Im A Star who are on 18 points apiece. The first of these, Hans Kuehnle’s home-bred ISH gelding by Tullibards Bennys Legacy, finished second (195.7) on Wednesday under Patrick Whelan while Daniel Anderson partnered Emma O’Shea’s home-bred Baby Im A Star, a gelded son of Ulysses M2S, into third (195.2).

There was a disappointing entry for both young horse classes this week so it will be interesting to see who turns up for Tuesday’s final where, thanks to a breeding grant from Horse Sport Ireland, there will be a prize fund in excess of €15,000 on offer, as well as rugs and trophies. Younger competitors are reminded that they are in contention for the leading underage riders.