COMPLETE domination, that is what Kevin Gallagher provided in the first round of the Show Jumping Ireland 1.50m Premier Series Grand Prix at Barnadown last Sunday.

Partnering the GBBS Int Ltd-owned nine-year-old mare DHF Lift Off (Harlequin Du Carel x Mr Clover), Gallagher took first place. He followed it up with second place aboard another owned by GBBS, the eight-year-old gelding Baloys PS (Baloubet De Rouet x Centadel). The winner is bred by Stephen Keane and was produced for most of her career by Jessica Stallard before joining Ballypatrick last November.

Speaking after the win, owner Greg Broderick said: “We’re delighted. It’s been a bit of a transition for us with Kevin this year because we sold his best horse Ballypatrick Flamenco at the end of last year, who went to a rider from the Dominican Republic for the Pan Am Games.

“These two horses he rode today, we had them at the Sunshine Tour and we’ve just been building them up. We had them doing 1.35m, 1.40m and 1.45m. The mare (DHF Liftoff) is very fast naturally, today it didn’t look like she was going too fast but she was quicker than we thought. She is only nine years’ old so she is going to be a very useful horse.

“The other is by Baloubet, and typical of some of the Baloubets, he’s sensitive and spooky, but the time in Spain seems to have brought him on a lot and we are very impressed with him today and is a nice horse to look forward to.

“We’ve been lucky the last couple of years, in trying to build a conveyor belt of nice horses coming through. I have to say a big thanks to all the team at home. Kevin has been with me the last number of years, and does a superb job. Our other rider Niamh McEvoy, who is a real talent, does a great job with our horses.

“You’ll see from today we have a nice bunch of eight and nine-year-olds coming on and stepping up now, including an amazing eight-year-old Lorenzo, who Niamh rode today. He had one fence down in his first 1.50m. We are really happy with how they all went,” said Broderick.

Just five of the 43 starters produced a first round clear to progress to the jump-off. First to go Cathal Daniels and Cappog Tomy (Camiro De Haar Z x S Creevagh Ferro) were unlucky to have the second last fence down for four faults in a time of 40.06 which would leave them in fifth place overall.

Second in was Gallagher and Baloys PS. They provided the first double clear round, stopping the clock at 37.90 for the eventual runner-up spot.

Third in, Luke Campbell riding Derryinver Truffle (Tornesch x Cruising) ran into trouble at the third fence where he collected four faults. He then added a further eight to finish on 12 faults, just inside the money in sixth place.

The previous weekend’s National Grand Prix winners Dermott Lennon and Anthem In My Heart were next. They continued their run of good form when leaving all the fences intact in 37.94 which would be good enough for third place. Junior James Brennan and MHS Jersey Girl (Cardento x Quidam Junior) had the fourth fence down in 37.81 and fourth place as the fastest four-faulter in the final line-up.

Last to go was Gallagher and his second mount DHF Lift Off. They produced a foot-perfect clear in a fast time of 37.16 the lion’s share of the €15,000 on offer.

The next round of the Premier Series takes place at Balmoral on July 9th.