THE second round of the DAFM Studbook Series at TheMeadows attracted the best of the young horses in the country to battle it out for the €8,400 on offer.
In the seven-year-old section, it was Owner/Breeder Brian McConville’s day to shine. Both of his horses, BWE Special Rose and BWE Vain Hero dominated, taking first and second places with Shane O’Reilly in the saddle.
By I’m Special De Muze, out of Kilcorig Rose, by Camilo De Haar Z, BWE Special Rose stopped the clock at 41.17 for the win.
BWE Vain Hero is by Ugadi Hero Z, out of Vain Of The Lowlands, by Darco. She broke the finish in 42.26 for the runner-up spot.
The Belgian-bred Royal Majestic D’or (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Dulf Van Den Bisschop) took third place for Owner/rider Darragh Ryan in 44.39.
Tom Spence’s Boleybawn Genio (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Verdi) bred by Ronan Rothwell and ridden by Darren Irwin were fourth, while Stephen Wentzel and LG Equine Limited’s Max The Outlaw (Ard Vdl Douglas x Lux Z) bred by Mary McInerney were fifth.
Joanne Blair and Richard Bourns’ Belgian-bred mare Dynamic Touched Numo Z (Dallas VDL x Untouched) completed the line-up in sixth place.
In the six-year-olds 18 of the 37 starters posted a clear round over both phases in the 1.15m competition, while in the five-year-olds 20 of the 44 combinations that lined out returned fault-free over the two phases to divide the prize-pot of €2,500.