NOW that Pau is over, how did Irish-breds fare at five-star level this year? A win (Vanir Kamira, Burghley), second (Capels Hollow Drift, Burghley) and third (Swallow Springs, Badminton) results, plus 15 more top-10 places around the northern hemisphere five-stars is the final tally.

Here’s how they placed: Dondante (seventh) was the sole Irish-bred to feature in the Kentucky top-10. However better days lay ahead at Badminton where 50% of its top-10 were Irish Sport Horses: Swallow Springs (Third. Chillout x Cult Hero. Breeder: Maria Keating), Vanir Kamira (Fourth. Camiro de Haar Z x Dixi. Kate Jackson), Ballaghmor Class (Fifth. Courage II. Noel Hickey), Colorado Blue (Eighth. Jaguar Mail x Rock King. Kate Jarvey) and Alfie’s Clover (10th. Tajraasi x Clover Hill. James Hickey).

On to Luhmühlen, Germany’s sole five-star event, where four Irish-breds featured in the top 10: Cooley Quicksilver (Fifth. Womanizer x Creggan Diamond. Breeder: Alan O’Brien), SRS Kan Do (Sixth. VDL Arkansas x Touchdown. Michael Dooner), WSF Carthago (Seventh. Cobra x Viking. Frank Mulvihill) and Lukas (Eighth. Lux Z x Roi Danzig. Lulu Parkhill).

It took Vanir Kamira’s fairytale Burghley win to break the five-star winning streak of the German-breds Fischerchipmunk FRH (HANN), London 52 (HOLST) and Colero (WESTF) at Kentucky, Badminton and Luhmühlen.

She was backed up by Capel’s Hollow Drift (Second. Shannondale Sarco, Ghyvan Z x Lucky Gift) and his second top-10 place this year for Alfie’s Clover (seventh).

Then there was the autumn additions of Dondante (sixth), Morswood (eighth) and Harbour Pilot (10th) at Maryland and back on this side of the Atlantic, Greenacres Special Cavalier (fifth) and Brookpark Vikenti (10th) added two more placings.

Highlight

The five-star season highlight? For me, it would have to be Burghley where the brilliant Vanir Kamira added that title to her previous Badminton win. At 17, she, like that other stalwart Ballaghmor Class, has little left to prove and the mantle now passes to others, such as Burghley runner-up, Capels Hollow Drift and another exciting youngster Greenacres Special Cavalier.

Vanir Kamira’s Burghley feat meant a well-deserved Gain Equine Nutrition/The Irish Field Star of the Month award for Kate Jackson. Both wins are also a poignant reminder of the recent sad loss of Ronnie Hollinger, who stood Camiro de Haar Z, and was rightly proud of the mare’s successes.

Pau Top-10 Bloodlines

1. Grappa Nera (KWPN). 11yo m by Karandasj (KWPN) - Cetonette (KWPN), by Babalouba (KWPN). Breeder: H.J Booy. Rider: Jonelle Price (NZL).

2. Triton Fontaine (SF). 15yo g by Gentleman IV (SF) - Grenouil Fontaine (SF), by Nightko (SF). Breeder: Sophie Pelissier Coutureal. Rider: Karim Florent Laghouag (FR).

3. Dynasty (KWPN). 14yo g by Whitesnake (KWPN) - Cleopatra (NRPS), by Calvados (SF). Breeder: E.R.M Sieling & CJ Kloet. Breeder: E.R.M. Sieling & C J Kloet. Rider: Hector Payne (GBR).

4. Galileo Nieuwmoed (KWPN). 11yo g by Carambole (HOLST) - Sjaloma (KWPN), by Harcos (SBS). Breeder: J.S & A.P Jurrius. Rider: David Doel (GBR).

5. Greenacres Special Cavalier (ISH). 9yo m by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) - Greenacres Touch (ISH), by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Michael Callery. Rider: Caroline Powell (NZL).

6. Cannavaro (KWPN).15yo g by Oklund (KWPN) - Domina (HANN), by Don Juan (HANN). Breeder: E. Van der Vleuten. Rider: Bubby Upton (GBR).

7. Carouzo Bois Marotin (SF). 10yo g by Kannan (KWPN) - Orchidee de Mai (SF), by Flipper D’Elle (SF). Breeder: Ophelie Mouflet. Rider: Maximie Livo (FR).

8. Valmy Biats (SF). 13yo g by Orlando (KWPN) - Aurelie du Prieure (SF), by Hadj A X (AA). Breeder: Philippe Brivois. Rider: Emily King (GB).

9. Viens Du Mont (SF). 13yo g by Norway de la Lande (SF) - Kaline du Mont (SF), by Kings Road (TB). Breeder: Maurice Viel. Rider: Luc Chateau (FR).

10. Brookpark Vikenti (ISH)[TIH]. Master Imp (TB) - Tullineaskey Butler’s Simon (ISH)[TIH], by Ballysimon (ISH) (TIH). Breeder: Trevor Kingston. Rider: Kazuma Tomoto (JPN).