THIS year’s Horse Sport Ireland stallion selections produced four fully approved additions to the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, a 100% increase in the number of Irish Draught Class 1 approvals (10) compared to 2022 (when five passed) and the youngest-ever attendee - William McMahon and Grace Maxwell Murphy’s three-day-old son Archie - at the inspections.

The timetable of the 14th central stallion inspection, held over Wednesday and Thursday at Cavan Equestrian Centre, also saw a better balance between Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horses over the two days.

From 19 Sport Horse Studbook candidates entered, 15 were present at Cavan. David Hickey’s 10-year-old Holsteiner Casago II, competed at 1.45m level by Shane Sweetnam; Johnny Geoghegan’s Mambo Nights and Gladys McArdle’s Sir Lando (two out of three thoroughbreds forward at Cavan) and Catherine Boylan’s home-bred Irish Sport Pony Tyrellspass Prince Charming were fully approved.

Luke Drea and Claire Dubowski’s Jengisk Delle Coll and Annemarie Pender’s Sandro Van De Berghoeve sailed through Stage 1 and 2 to gain Preliminary Approved status.

Four well-bred and related youngsters - Lady Georgina Forbes’ Feridann De Kergane, Sinead Brennan’s MHS Always, Jordan Coyle’s Peroni and Padraig Howley’s Sligo Cavalier Candy (by his own Sligo Candy Boy, one of the earliest graduates of these inspections) passed Stage 1.

There was 100% turnout rate from the 22 Irish Draught entries, with 10 - Peter Rice’s Baltydaniel White Heather, Denis O’Brien’s Carraig-stud Callum, Seamus Sloyan’s Clogheen Life Of Reilly, David Doyle’s Cloncastle Ambassador, Grace Maxwell Murphy and William McMah-on’s Edenagor Star, Martin Kenirons’ Espresso Vision, Derry Rothwell’s Greenhall Supersonic, Emma Hynes’ Hollyrock Grey Hero, Tommy McMahon’s Ludden Skywalker and Cathal Shine’s WRS Sun Rise all gaining Class 1 status.

Several owners of these newly-approved stallions planned a return visit to Cavan tomorrow for the Stallion Show and Equine Expo. “The 2023 stallion inspections were a great success; the event was well supported by breeders nationally and internationally,” Sonja Egan, HSI’s Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development commented afterwards.

“It was wonderful to see the spectator turnout increase on pre-Covid levels. We were joined by future breeders - at just three days old - and seasoned breeders. It is events like these which highlight the value and work breeders invest in producing the best for the future of the industry. I would like to congratulate stallion owners and breeders on the success of their breeding decisions across the selections and wish them the very best of luck in the 2023 breeding season.”

Full analysis in next week’s issue.

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

IRISH SPORT HORSE STUDBOOK

APPROVED

William Hickey’s CASAGO II (HOLST). Casall La Silla).

John Geoghegan’s MAMBO NIGHTS (TB). Havana Gold).

Gladys McArdle’s SIR LANDO (TB). Lando).

PRELIMINARY

APPROVED

Luke Drea & Claire Dubowski’s JENGISK DELLE COLL (SF). Diamant de Semilly.

Annemarie Pender’s SANDRO VAN DE BERGHOEVE (BWP). Hunter’s Sendro.

STAGE 1

Lady Georgina Forbes’ FERIDANN DE KERGANE. (SF). Canturo.

Sinead Brennan’s MHS ALWAYS (ISH). Aganix Du Seigneur.

Jordan Coyle’s PERONI (KWPN). Zirocco Blue VDL.

Padraig Howley’s SLIGO CAVALIER CANDY (ISH). Sligo Candy Boy.

IRISH SPORT PONY APPROVED IN ISH STUDBOOK

Catherine Boylan’s TYRELLSPASS PRINCE CHARMING (ISP). Chinook Limelight. (Also Preliminary Approved status in the Irish Sport Pony Studbook.

IRISH DRAUGHT

STUDBOOK

CLASS 1

Peter Rice’s BALTYDANIEL WHITE HEATHER (Powerwoods Gladiator).

Denis O’Brien’s CARRAIGSTUD CALLUM (Goldsmithcountry Oliver).

Seamus Sloyan’s CLOGHEEN LIFE OF REILLY (King Elvis).

David Doyle’s CLONCASTLE AMBASSADOR (Fast Silver).

Grace Maxwell Murphy & William McMahon’s EDENAGOR STAR (Dunsandle Diamond).

Martin Kenirons’ ESPRESSO VISION (Darragh Moylough Vision).

Derry Rothwell’s GREENHALL SUPERSONIC (Carrabawn Cross).

Emma Hynes’ HOLLYROCK GREY HERO (Killountain Cross).

Tommy McMahon’s LUDDEN SKYWALKER (Luke Skywalker).

Cathal Shine’s WRS SUNRISE (WRS Sun Rich).