THE first leg of the DAFM/HSI Show jumping Studbook Series took place last Saturday at Tipperary Equestrian Centre with over 120 young horses battling it out across the three age categories.

The seven-year-old class saw 27 go to post and 17 of those advanced to the jump-off with a clear round. Taking the win, and with it the lion’s share of the €2,880 prize fund, was Max Foley riding the Bravo Hughes-owned GCS Othello (ISH) after they came home in a time 30.95.

Bred by Eoin Brennan from Kilkenny, the gelding is by SIEC Livello out of GCS Athena (ISH), by Vigo D’Arsouilles. Foley also took sixth place with the Marion Hughes-owned stallion HHS Flonix, crossing the line in a time of 35.79. Bred by Brendan McSorley in Co Tyrone, this stallion is by Aganix Du Seigneur out of Echo Peach (Clover Echo).

The Minister of Defence’s Kinmar Corr Dubh took second place, when Second Lt Raphael Lee guided him to clear in 32.06. Bred by Mary King Maron in Co Monaghan, the gelding is by Ganesh Hero Z out of Akyida Hero Z, by Aganix Du Seigneur.

Accounting for third place was Alice Moloney riding the Tom Moloney-owned Sir Escobar, clear in 34.10. Bred by fellow Kilkenny native Sinead Brennan, the gelding is by Elvis Ter Putte out of Perfect Mix E (Aquilino).

Catriona Fitzgerald wasted no time with her own D Cullen Dominator, clocking 34.81 for eventual fourth place. Bred by Jackie Lee, the mare is by Dominator 2000 Z out of the Courage II dam Cullen Aphla.

A clear from Robyn Moran and Fortside Omard Oklahoma in 35.57 saw them take fifth place. Owned by Fortside Farms and bred by Shane O’Reilly, the gelding is by Presidential Ball out of a mare by Maltskriker.

Five and six-year-olds

A total of 51 horses contested the five-year-old section, with 17 of these delivering a double clear to put their first points on the board. The 17 clears shared a prize fund of €1,800, with breeder and groom prizes of €300 and €100 respectively, awarded at random among the clears.

The six-year-old section saw 44 combinations go to post and, from those, 18 produced a double clear to split the prize fund of €2,000.

Breeder and groom prizes to the same value as above were also awarded on the day.