AS the last of five qualifiers for the Star of the Future championships at Balmoral Show (May 14th to 17th), the entries at Lusk Equestrian on Sunday were, as expected, a bit smaller than at other venues but there was a great atmosphere as two classes were run in conjunction with the centre’s Derby Day where the simple rule of the fastest clear round prevailed.

Such, of course, was not the case in the Balmoral qualifiers where some nice young horses were judged for conformation and type, paces on the flat, jumping scope and technique, way of going, gallop and potential/star quality. There was good support from owners and riders in the south who were most complimentary about the course. Organisers Harold and Jenny Lusk didn’t have to look too far for a judge with Harold’s brother Brian undertaking the task.

His winner of five-year-old qualifier was the Jonny Mulligan-ridden Irish Sport Horse gelding Quality Julio. The OBOS Quality 004 bay, who is owned by Sandra Hamilton, Janet Hall and Fran McCormick, was bred in Co Longford by David Harrison out of the Sunny Boy mare Thomand Crest. Colin Halliday secured the second qualifying ticket on the ISH gelding Apple Jacques, a chesnut by Vancouver who is owned by the rider’s wife Orlagh and Grace O’Shaughnessy, with Ben Rainey claiming the third on Larav Guiness Light, a bay ISH gelding by Guinness.

Jonny Steele had to settle for the first reserve slot here on Imperator but qualified two horses by right in the six and seven-year-old class.

These were the Point Of View Syndicate’s traditionally-bred ISH gelding Point Of View, a 2018 chesnut by Pointilliste, and Susan Sullivan’s ISH mare Bessie Blue, a 2019 daughter of Centrestage. Both Steele horses had competed at Tyrella 2 the previous day.

Bellini

Amanda Goldsbury and KHH Cooley Bellini were first in the 6/7 year old Star of the Future Balmoral qualifier at Lusks \ JRS Photpgraphy

The class was won by Co Wicklow-based New Zealand international Amanda Goldsbury riding KHH Cooley Bellini.

Cooley Farm’s striking ISH gelding by SIEC Livello was bred by The Irish Field’s Advertising and Marketing Manager Brendan McArdle and his partner Sarah Crosbie out of HHS Finky (by Heritage Fortunus) who amassed 105 SJI points during her competition career.

If you want to be at Balmoral to see the Star of the Future Championships in the Main Arena on Friday, May 16th, you need to be there early as there is an 8am start time.