THE first of three qualifiers for this year’s Dublin Horse Show for horses aged four, five, six, seven and eight was held in The Meadows Equestrian Centre on Wednesday.

The four-year-old division saw 69 combinations line out for the eight places on offer. German judges Thomas Schonig from Hanoverian Society and Roland Metz from the Holsteiner Verband marked each horse out of 200 marks on jumping technique/natural ability, future ability and rideability.

Aoife Cuffe’s Dunard Lady Dominator, a mare by Dominator 2000 Z out of Lady Amaretto by Captain Clover, which was bred by Colm Cuffe and ridden by Ita McDermott, scored the highest mark of 166 points to earn their place at the Ballsbridge show.

Mt Luxaan, a mare by Cazaan out of Lux So Easy by Lux Z, bred by Gareth Carlisle and owned and was ridden by Clare Abbott, took the runner-up spot on a score of 160.

Junior rider Stephen Gibbons guided his mother Jane’s Ceide Candy Heart, a gelding by Garryduff Jar of Hearts out of Ceide Heather Honey by Sligo Candy Boy, bred by Mary Walsh, into third place with 157 points.

Ronan Rothwell’s home-bred Boleybawn Rolex (Celtic Hero - Boleybawn Roxy, by Candillo Z) took fourth place with Jack McKeon in the saddle on a score of 156.

MCG Emerald and Deane Rogan were fifth on 154. Owned by Declan McGarry, this gelding is by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof, out of Lachain Kandy by Kannan and was bred by Lucy Buchanan.

Sixth went to Zoe Connolly riding her own mare Brockagh Field Caillin (Dakar VDL - Brocka Cruising Lucy, by Cruising) on 153.

Gerard Burke’s home-bred Glidawn Gigi (I’m Special De Muze - Drumin Kacqueline by Jack of Diamonds) with Gemma Phelan aboard were seventh on a score of 151, while the eighth and final qualifying place on 149 points went to James McEvoy riding his own gelding Sumas Foxy (Ard VDL Douglas - Cillmhuire Imp, by Master Imp), bred by Susan Lanigan O’Keeffe.