BELLINE JFH Golden Spear continued the excellent season enjoyed by Richard Ames’ young horses when winning the five-year-old HSI Studbook Series on 22 points under Caitie Slater. For good measure, Slater, the series leading rider under 25 at EI100 level, also placed fourth on Ames’ traditionally-bred ISH gelding Belline Imperial Diamond (17).

Bred in Co Kildare by David Browne, Belline JFH Golden Spear is by Jackaroo out of the Craigsteel mare Ballybolger Georgina, a half-sister to the Puissance gelding Horseware Bushman (CCI4*).

The traditionally bred chesnut finished second in the four-year-old young event horse class at the Dublin Horse Show last August under Elle Toner and this season, in the hands of Slater, was eighth in the Junior/Young rider class for five to seven-year-olds, a place behind Belline Imperial Diamond.

With Slater, Belline JFH Golden Spear has had seven outings in EI100 company and was fifth (Clonmahon House), second (Rosanna (2)) and third (Ballindenisk (2)) in the HSI Studbook qualifying rounds.

On 18 points apiece, there was a divide for second place in this five-year-old league between two home-bred ISH mares. Tullymurry Grace, who finished second at Clonmahon House and third in the final, is ridden for David O’Connor by his wife Elaine whose mother, Marian Turley, bred the bay out of her Camiro de Haar Z mare Tullymurry Holly.

By Killinick Bouncer, BCL Belletastic was partnered by Junior rider Georgina Pettit for her mother Marguerite who bred the TIH chesnut out of Ballycushlane Crest (by Cut The Mustard).