JUNIOR riders were back in the limelight for the second weekend in a row, as Kian Dore claimed victory in the third round of the GAIN/Alltech Grand Prix at Galway Equestrian on Bank Holiday Monday. Riding Hermies VH Bergerhof Z, he lodged the winning round of clear in 38.28 seconds.

Owned by Carl Dore, Hermies VH Bergerhof Z is a nine-year-old mare by Hermes De Lux and out of the Clearway- sired dam, Chanel Z. Cian began campaigning the mare in March and finished second in the 1.35m Balmoral qualifier in Cavan in April.

Delighted with the win, Kian’s father Carl said: “We are so happy with the win today, this little mare is so brave and has great heart. Kian has had a tremendous career on ponies and it will be hard to live up to that record. This mare will hopefully help him with the step up. We only have her a few months after buying her in Belgium. She has qualified for Balmoral, so that’s next on the cards. They will hopefully do the last qualifiers for the RDS.”

Regarding the jump-off, he said: “He went last in the jump-off, so that gave him a bit of advantage.

“Sven (Hadley) put in a very fast round, but our mare is just a bit quicker across the ground and today was our day.”

In this round, 32 combinations went to post and, from those, seven booked their place against the clock.

Sven Hadley was just over a second behind aboard Phenomene Bleu VDM, delivering a clear in a time of 39.31. Owned by Hadley Sport Horses, the nine-year-old stallion was bred by Famile Bruggeman and is by Diamant De Semilly and is out of the Nabab De Reve-sired dam, Nuance Bleue VDM Z. This combination won the GAIN/Alltech National Grand Prix in Necarne in May 2023 and, before this, the round in Kernan’s Equestrian. Last year, they took second place in the 1.35m CSI3* in Opglabbeek and third in the 1.50m. They also finished second in Dunkerque CSI2* 1.45 Grand Prix.

Quality

Lee Carey and Luxity also answered all the questions, albeit in a slower time of 41.37 for third place. Owned by John Carey and bred by John Mulvey, the 10-year-old gelding is by O.B.O.S Quality 004 and is out of the Lux Z-sired dam, Tullibards Lux Sensational. This pairing has been winning of late, taking victory in the 1.35m Balmoral Qualifier in Cavan last month.

Place sixth in the opening round in Duffy’s, Damien Griffin was last of the double clears aboard ESI Hamshire in a time of 46.24, which saw him slotting into fourth place. Owned and bred by Ennisnag Stud, the gelding is by Zirocco Blue VDL and out of the Coleman-sired dam, SSH Coolgirl. This combination recently claimed sixth place in the Spring Tour in Banner and in Cavan.

Defending Champion, Jonathan Smyth put points on the board as he partnered Crystal Graf into fifth place, when finishing as the fastest of the four-faulters in a time of 38.81. Bred by Ann Doherty’s late husband Anthony, Crystal Graf is a 10-year-old gelding by Lux Z and out of the Graf Magna-sired dam, Lady Graf.

Eddie Moloney and Damma Kannan Supreme also had one on the ground, but a fast time of 46.18 saw them take sixth place. Owned and bred by Niall Greene, this 10-year-old gelding is by Kannan and out of the Camiro De Haar-sired dam, Tonagh Trip The Lights.

This combination recently finished second in the 1.35m Balmoral Qualifier in Killossery. Last year, the pairing finished fifth in The Orthoderm 1.35m Championship at Balmoral, so they will be looking to feature in this line-up again.