WILLIAMS Sport Horses ensured the lion’s share of the prize money stayed at home, when its own Grand Amour KPCM won the Parc Stables-sponsored four-year-old class at the Future Stars Cup Young Horse show at Garranemore in Co Limerick last Saturday.

The venue, run by husband and wife Patrick Delaney and Jessica Van Moorleghem, provided a superb day of jumping much to the praise of those in attendance.

The four-year-old class, with a prize fund of €1,500, attracted 31 starters and was judged by Belgium’s Tom Van de Vijver from BWP Auctions and international sport horse producer Bart Van Hove. The winner, Grand Amour KPCM, is by Grandorado TN out of Ellie-May LVS Z (Emerald van’t Ruytershof). Bred by Karen Millar, she was ridden to the top spot on a score of 108 by Keith Moloney.

“They have done a fantastic job here, the place looks great and it is nice to be part of it,” said Adrian Williams, owner of the winning horse and sponsor of the class. “The winner has a little bit done through the year. I bought her as a two-year-old, she is very well-bred from a good mother line.

"We think a lot of her, she will be a nice horse for next year.”

Conor McMahon and his own mare Highflyer 1 (Sligo Candy Boy x Corlea Rebel), bred by Sean McVeigh, took the runner-up spot with their score of 105.5 points. Michael Duffy’s stallion Bogdan (Diamant De Semilly x Chellano Z) was guided into third place by Ballypatrick Stables’ rider Leah Stack with 103.5 points.

Robyn Moran and John Griffin’s home-bred gelding That’s Why (Vivant Van De Heffinck x Ars Vivendi) finished in fourth on a score of 103. The Marion Hughes-owned and bred HHS Kentucky (Lithium V.S x Heritage Fortunus) was ridden into a share of fifth place by Max Foley on a score of 99.5, while Keith Ennis’ Dutch-bred gelding Papillon TN (Grandorado TN x Manhattan) also took fifth place, with Daniel O’Sullivan in the saddle.

Conor McMahon, six and seven-year-old winner, with Olga Doyle at Garranemore Equestrian \ Aisling Creative

Goal

Patrick and Jess explained their goal behind the initiative of a judged four-year-old and five-year-old class, commenting: “Our goal for these two classes is that the best horses in their respective classes get placed by being judged on their potential. This allows us to build simpler and fairer courses for our young green horses, as the result is not completely determined by clear rounds or speed - we want to reward talent in young horses, not mileage.

“We are very lucky to be able to bring in experienced breeders and producers like Tom and Bart, who have bred, owned and ridden horses, such as H&M All In and Odense Odeveld, who both competed at Olympic Games.”

The couple added a word of thanks to the sponsors and supporters of the show. “The Autumn leg of the Future Stars Cup was brilliantly supported, with almost 200 horse and rider combinations competing and many breeding/show jumping enthusiasts spectating. We would like to say a special thank you from all of the team at Garranemore Equestrian to our sponsors, who continue to support us and help make everything possible.”

Five-year-olds

The five-year-old 1.10m division was sponsored by Carleton Stables and Hughes Horse Stud and, once again, was judged by Tom Van de Vijver and Bart Van Hove.

On this occasion, it was Leah Stack riding GBBS Ltd and Stal de Muze’s stallion Jericho de Hus that headed proceedings on a score of 116 points. By Emerald van’t Ruytershof out of Babouchka De Hus (Levistan), he was bred by Haras de Hus.

Speaking after the win, Cheryl Broderick commented: “We are delighted with Jericho de Hus. We own him in partnership with Stal de Muze, he’s a very nice stallion we have for breeding also. He’s just back from Lanaken, where he was in the final with Micheal Duffy, so it’s nice to top off the season for him with a win here today. Well done to Patrick and Jess. It’s a really well-run show. The facilities and hospitality here are second to none. It’s lovely for breeders like myself to come here and see these nice four, five, and six and seven-year-old horses. We’re delighted to come home with a victory.”

Max Foley and the Marion Hughes-owned and bred Miss B (Duel de HSP x Der Senaat 111) were runners-up on a score of 113. Third place went to Madeline Roberts Allen riding Gerald Allen’s MP Cascade (Conthargos x Casco) with 110.25 points.

Eddie Moloney and Equanimity LLC’s Trulli Last NA (Button Sitte x Quidam de Revel) were fourth on 110, while fifth went to Tony O’Donohue and Alan Robertson’s Belgian-bred Top Quality Van’t Roosakker (Comme Il Faut x Kassander Van’t Roosakker) on a score of 109.5.

Sixth place went to Susan Fitzpatrick riding her own gelding Tarancha Vd Zeijerweg Z (Taran De La Pomme x Stolzenberg) on 109 points.

Feature

Saturday’s feature class, the six and seven-year-old 1.25/1.35m Jump-Off Handicapped, sponsored to the tune of €2,500 by Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables, saw 55 combinations go to post. Of these, 18 returned a first round clear to progress to the timed decider.

Just nine managed to keep a clean sheet in round two. Conor McMahon proved fastest of these, stopping the clock at 36.58 aboard his own six-year-old gelding Billy Raindrop (Plot Blue x Cevin Z).

Speaking afterwards, McMahon said: “I’m delighted to win. He is a six-year-old, owned by David Blake and Amanda Derbyshire. He jumped fantastic, he is a super horse.

“We haven’t done a lot with him this year, but he really jumped good today and hopefully there will be big things to come with him in the future.”

Leah Stack won the five-year-olds at Garranemore Equestrian with Jericho de Hus. Pictured with Cheryl Broderick, Brendan Doyle and Patrick Delaney \ Aisling Creative

Sven Hadley took second place with his own seven-year-old gelding Make It Easy HSH (Don’t Touch It M x Landos) in 36.88. Third place went to Darragh Ryan riding his own Belgian-bred mare Royal Majestic D’or (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Dulf Van Den Bisschop) in 37.06.

McMahon also took fourth place with his second mount, Kristina O’Neill’s mare Coco Douglas (Ard VDL Douglas x Pacino), bred by Maria Griffin in 37.78.

Fifth place went to Kian Dore riding Michael O’Sullivan’s home-bred Whs King Lincoln (Mr Lincoln B x Lux Z) in 37.88.

American rider Gwyneth Babington, daughter of Irish Olympian Kevin Babington, finished in sixth place with BP Goodfellas (Stakkato Gold x O.B.O.S Quality), a horse her father bred. Gwyneth is currently based at Ballypatrick Stables.