THE second last qualifier for the Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series took place at the grounds of the sponsor on a beautiful sunny weekend at the Tattersalls July Show. It was lovely for this to be a part of what is one of the highlights of the showing calendar in Ireland at the stunning venue in Co Meath. Entries were plentiful across both sections, with competitors still vying for their spot in the final in September.

The Novice class was won by Sabrina Harty and Slievenamon John, an eight-year-old gelding by Waldpark. The last of his seven runs was at the end of 2022 and it was after that the owners offered the horse back to Harty: “He showed a lot of ability for racing, but was very unlucky to go wrong of his wind and develop allergies.”

Speaking about the plans for the future, Harty said: “I haven’t done a whole lot of competing and schooling on him as yet, as he’s for Emily in the future, so there hasn’t been a rush on him. He was always a gent from day one and rides the same now as he rode off as a three-year-old, so he has been easy, as all well-made, well-balanced horses are!”

In second place, also booking their ticket for the final, is showing season debutant Chris’s Dream and Joanne Quirke. Quirke, no stranger to the show ring, has been taking things slowly with the 12-year-old gelding, who ran 23 times on the track, winning on six of the starts.

In the Open section, it was the on-form Bobby Cool and Miia Ruskannen who impressed the judges. The combination are already qualified for the Dublin Horse Show next month and have been placed in a Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series qualifier earlier this season. Ruskannen is based with Bobby Cool’s owner/breeder Liisa Rantamaki, both are Finnish natives.

The eight-year-old gelding ran eight times in Rantamaki’s colours, while being trained by Andrew McNamara, before retiring off the racetrack in 2019. In second was Knockdrin JJ, owned by Erica Jewitt and ridden by Emily McMahon, an Elusive Pimpernal gelding, who is unraced. The gelding, who has also been out eventing this year, had two top six placings back in May.

The last qualifier for the series will take place at Iverk Show (August 24th), with the final taking place at the Royal Meath Show on September 1st.