AOIFE Dooley riding Maurice Cousins’ Boleybawn Rigeletto won the four-year-old RDS qualifier in Maryville, Co Cork, on Wednesday. By Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of Boleybawn Hannah by Luidam, the mare was bred by Ronan Rothwell. The pair secured the win by a large margin, scoring 82.50 from judges Roland Metz and Thomas Schonig.
The runner-up spot went to Ger O’Neill’s gelding Castlefield Confellow. Bred by Martin Doyle and ridden by Jason Foley, he is by Cornet Obolensky out of Fendoy by Laughtons Flight and scored a total of 79.75.
Damien Griffin riding Andrea Etter’s home-bred stallion Mr Quincy B finished in third on a score of 75 points. By Aganix Du Seigneur, the entire is out of Lucy In the Sky B by O-Piloth.
The fourth qualifying spot on a score of 73.75 went to Fortside Candy Crush, owned by Brian Moran and ridden by Robyn Moran. Bred by Padraig Arthur, this gelding is by Sligo Candy Boy and out of Lux A Gonner.
Shane Goggins and Hadley Sport Horses’ HSH Harper Du Seigneur (by Aganix Du Seigneur – Chippison) earned a score of 73.50 to slot into fifth place. The sixth and final qualifying place went to Thomas O’Brien on his own home-bred Colui (by Luidam out of Vereedom G by Orame) on a score of 73.25.
Seven and eight-year-olds
Derek McConnell and his own mare Longfield Quinlui (by Quintender out of the Luidam mare Dshlyi) took the top-spot in the seven-year-old class which sees the top-four finishers earn a place in the seven and eight-year-olds at the Dublin Show.
A jump-off time of 49.53 in the 10-horse timed decider saw the pair secure the win, this comes just three days after they finished in fourth place in the 1.35m at the Ballivor Horse Show.
Second place went to Jack Ryan riding his mother Marguerite’s Cardento gelding BBS McGregor. The pair had just missed out on a qualifying spot at The Meadows the previous month but had no such bad luck on this occasion stopping the clock at 51.61.
Edward Doyle riding Mullaghdrin Limber finished in third place in 52.37. By Flex-A-Bill out of Mohill Cavalier Clover, this gelding was bred by Noel Cawley.
The fourth and last qualifying place went to Erne Mountain Dew. Ridden by Francis Connors and owned by Hugh Fitzpatrick, this Lux Z – Aldato gelding broke the finish beam at 53.18.
There were just three qualifying places on offer in the eight-year-old section, and the top spot here was won by Tim MacDonagh and his own Hollypark Boom Boom. By Heritage Fortunas and out of the Ramiro B mare HHS Diamond Exchange, this gelding was bred by Clare Hughes and represents probably the best of modern Irish breeding.
They produced a jump-off time of 47.11 to finish just ahead of the Army Equitation School’s Capt. Geoff Curran riding HHS Clintsown in 47.75. Once again this gelding boasts a very impressive bloodline. Bred by the late Ita Brennan, he is by OBOS Quality out of the Cavalier Royale mare MHS Kilkenny Lady.
Third place went to the only other double clear of the class, Tuilleadh Uisce Beatha and Paul Murphy, in 52.89. Bred by Newberry Wilson, this gelding by Ustinov out of Ice Gold by Clover Echo, is owned by Neal Fearon and the rider.
Six-year-olds
Nine qualifying places were on offer in the six-year-old section. A total of 67 lined out and of these, just eight managed to produce a double clear round which gave them their Dublin ticket.
They included Gemma Phelan and ABC Ballycruise (Cruising – Diamond Lad), Derek McConnell and MTH Shannondale Stefan (Hannibal V Overis Z - Grange Bouncer), Tim Beecher’s Loughnatousa Castlefield (Flex A Bill – Mohill Cavalier Clover) and Tadgh Beecher. Phelan and her second mount Curraghgraigue Coevers Quality (OBOS Quality – Coevers Diamond Boy), Jacarina and Kevin Gallagher, Grangeview Cruise and Liam O’Meara, Damien Griffin riding Kinman Quality Hero, Jessica Burke and Crestus Clover and the fastest four-faulter Cobrador partnered by Tiernan Gray.
The five-year-old results are subject to an inquiry after the owner of one of the competing horses lodged an appeal.