MIKEY Pender is quickly making up ground in the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour as he clocked up his second win of the series at Tattersalls July Show last Sunday. Pender had won the round at Coilog with HHS California.
This time, riding the Marion Hughes-owned HHS Sevenhouses, Pender clocked the winning clear in 31.88 seconds. Bred by Marion Hughes, HHS Sevenhouses is an eight-year-old gelding by Heritage Fortunus out of Thomas Hughes’s home-bred mare HHS Daisy. A half-sister HHS Fortune, (7yo by Catoki), is also being campaigned by Pender in the aged classes with much success. At Tattersalls the pair finished fourth in the final of the ISH Studbook series.
Once again it was a very competitive class, with 14 combinations delivering double clears. Taking second place was Kenneth Graham and Beir Bua, fractions behind in 32.01. Bred and owned by Harold McGahern, the mare is an eight-year-old by Lancelot out of Rincoola Bua. Beir Bua is a half-sister to the gelding Dunganstown Boy (by Diamant De Semilly), campaigned by David Power and Michael Kelly.
Little separated the next placing as Alexander Butler galloped home aboard Neal Fearon’s Dekato in 32.63, for third.
It was a good weekend for Dermott Lennon as he added to his tally when taking fourth with Baccara Des Forets, clear in 34.37. A new mount for Lennon, the seven-year-old French-bred mare was campaigned in Vejer de la Frontera, under the command of Rebecca McGoldrick.
Paul Carberry and Brandonview First Edition were hot on Lennon’s heels, when they lodged a clear in 34.81 for eventual fifth. Junior rider Seamus Hughes Kennedy put in a sensible clear with Louis D’Or in 36.07 for sixth. The former mount of Paddy O’Donnell, Louis D’Or is new to the Hughes Kennedy family after they bought the gelding to compete in the young rider arena.
WIN FOR FINNERTY
On Saturday, victory in the 1.20m belonged to Wicklow rider Mark Finnerty when he partnered Emma to a clear in 34.65. Finnerty will also be in action in the young rider arena at Dublin, having qualified Diarado Royale. Young rider Olivia Roulston took the runner--up spot, clear with Garronturton Beach in 35.81. This was a very good warm-up for the Co Tyrone rider for Dublin, having qualified her other horse Erico in the young rider division.
Angela Percy kept everything in place with Sligo Cavalier Lass, albeit in a slower time of 36.25, for third. Winner in Fingal, Gavin Smith partnered Mullinroe to a clear in 37.16 for eventual fourth. Tipperary’s David Raeburn delivered a clear with Garryard Electrolux, in 37.87 for fifth, ahead of Cornelius Brennan and Little Smithe, in 38.73.
In the 1.10m section, Rory Lavery and Glenkeeran Carsonstown led the victory lap, clear in 27.40. Owned by Lavery, the seven-year-old gelding is by Womanizer out of the Crosstown Dancer sire Gleenkeeran Mollie. This combination has clocked up a series of results, which includes second in the Ulster Region Tour in Omagh.
Sara Gorman and Take A Gamble are proving to be a dominant force in this division and they delivered another good result, clear in 28.86 for second. Michael O’Neill and Castlefield Capri kept all the poles in place in 30.48 for third ahead of Emma Jackson and Tommie Girl, in 32.03. Melissa Mckee decision to play it safe with Diamond Beach Babe paid dividends as she lodged a clear in 35.28 for fifth. Completing the top-six line-up was David O’Connor and Gerona, clear in 35.41.