HAVING appeared recently at a Foxborough Riding Club fixture, the 2014 Badminton CCI5*-L winner Paulank Brockagh topped the scores in the unregistered section of two Novice classes at the Dressage Ireland Eastern Region show in Marlton last Sunday.

The 21-year-old Touchdown mare, who returned to the ownership of her Co Wicklow breeders, Paula and Frank Cullen, at the end of her lengthy eventing career with Australia’s Sam Griffiths, was partnered by Louise Lynn, who also competes the Nazar mare Paulank Easter Bunny and is engaged to the Cullens’ son Owen.

“When we got ‘Brocks’ back, we bred two foals from her naturally, both by thoroughbred stallions,” reported Paula. “The first (a 2021 filly named Paulank Symphony) was by Centennial, while the second (a 2022 filly named Paulank Callow Rose) was by Rosier. She very nearly died when having the second and I really don’t know how our vet Larry Dunne managed to keep her alive.

“We then went down the embryo transfer route and her 2023 Paulank Rio, by Emerald van’t Ruytershof, was carried by Ballymac Holly Mae (by Gortfree Lakeside Lad) who, when actually carrying the filly, finished second in the older performance Irish Draught class at Dublin in 2022.

“Louise was looking at Brocks out in the field one day and asked if she could bring her back into work for dressage and we agreed. It’s great to see the pair of them getting on so well, though the mare gets a bit excited after her test, wondering when she is going to jump!”

No doubt delighted to learn of Paulank Brockagh’s exploits on Sunday, the aforementioned Larry Dunne was celebrating the success in the concluding older horses’ point-to-point maiden at Borris House of Slieve Annilog. Having his first start since January, the Mount Nelson gelding is trained in Ballyorney outside Enniskerry by Dunne’s wife Riceal for the Stylebawn Syndicate.