MAX Foley and the Bravo Hughes-owned and bred HHS Catwalk won the seventh round of the TRM/Showjumpers Club 1.35m Spring Tour Grand Prix at Killossery last Sunday.

By Cit Cat out of HHS Clo Jo, by Clover Echo, the 13-year-old mare has been a great servant to Foley since he took over the reins from Mikey Pender at the start of the 2024 season.

Speaking to The Irish Field following the class, Foley (20), winner of the 2024 RDS Young Rider bursary, said: “We’re delighted with the win. She’s a very fast horse, she is quick across the jump, she doesn’t spend too much time in the air and she is very balanced.

“We had a great turn to number four; I think that’s where we made up a lot of time. We were first to go of the 16 in the jump-off, so we had to put the pressure on. I was third on Mick O’Neill’s horse Sumas Knockout, he has really stepped up and I believe could go a long way. He is very talented.”

Foley was planning to compete at the round in Warrington yesterday (Friday), but before that, was heading to Peelbergen in The Netherlands for the Young Rider Academy selection days on Tuesday and Wednesday. “I’m bringing Molly’s [Hughes Bravo] horse Zazu BW (Je T’aime Flamenco x Montreux), bred by Ballywalter Stables, and Marta’s [Hughes Bravo] HHS Kildare (Je T’aime Flamenco x Mermus R).

“You bring a young horse and compete over two days, and also an older one for the 1.40-1.50m classes. They judge your potential and ability and pick up to 10 riders a year. My brother Shane came through the academy, and so did Mikey (Pender).

“If you get picked, it begins in April and is for one year. It’s a great opportunity and they can get you into some of the big five-star shows,” Max explained.

He added: “I’m based full-time with Marion (Hughes), so they could decide that they could leave me there as my professional base, which would be fantastic. I’m very lucky, everyone here is great and so good at what they do. I learn so much from them all. Fingers crossed I get selected for the Academy and can continue to improve.”

Set the pace

Sponsored by Maher Tractor Sales to the tune of €3,000, the class attracted a start list of 41 combinations. Of these, 16 produced a first round clear to progress to the timed decider.

Foley set the pace as first to go in the jump-off. He guided Catwalk to a second clear round in a very fast time of 34.91.

Jack Brennan came closest to catching the leader, crossing the finish in 37.09 aboard Sinead Brennan’s home-bred eight-year-old mare MHS Versace (Luidam x OBOS Quality). They secured the runner-up spot.

Foley captured third place riding a horse he thinks a lot of in Freestone Farm’s eight-year-old gelding Sumas Knockout (Tyson x VDL Arkansas), bred by Suma Stud. The duo stopped the clock at 37.22.

Rockmount Farm’s L’Esprit Hero Z (Lexicon x For Pleasure), bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry and ridden by Harrison Blair, finished fourth in 37.32. Fifth was Alena Hughes riding her own Dutch-bred gelding Hercules (Clinton x Calvaro Z) to a jump-off time of 37.77.

Darragh Ryan completed the top six, when he partnered his own eight-year-old Belgian-bred gelding As You Want Z across the finish in 44.58.

Balmoral qualifiers

It was another victory for the Hughes/Bravo stable, when Marta Hughes Bravo rode her mother Marion’s gelding HHS Figero (Guidam x Cavalier Royale) to the win in Saturday’s Sandstorm Equestrian 1.35m Balmoral qualifier at the venue.

Of the 36 starters, 22 managed to produce a double clear round over the two phases. Hughes Bravo was quickest in a time of 37.71. Abby Morton was second riding Joanne Morton’s Bueoak Legaland (Diamant de Semilly x Clinton), bred by Joe Reilly, they stopped the clock at 37.90.

Cooley Farm’s Amanda Goldsbury was first and second in the six/seven-year-old Balmoral qualifier. She won aboard the six-year-old Zangersheide mare Touch of Cooley (Untouchable x Zapatero VDL) while the best placed seven-year-old in second was KHH Romanov Park, an eye catching gelding by Romanov out of HHS Central Park (Don Juan de la Bouverie), bred by Brendan McArdle and Sarah Crosbie.

Orla Cassidy won the qualifier for five-year-olds aboard her own Whitetree Baby (Zinedine x Glenbar), bred by Aoife Cassidy.