TATTERSALLS was the venue for the Grand Final of the 2023 Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series. This was the seventh round of the series which has been running since May.

In the five-year-old division, it was LMG Enterprises’ mare Gone Girl VB that took the win. By Emerald Van’t Ruytershof, she is out of Bellisimo (Cobra), bred by Eleanor Byrne, and ridden by Vincent Byrne. The duo finished in second place in the four-year-old National Championships at the 2022 Dublin Horse Show and qualified for this year’s show at Barnadown in May. They recorded a jump-off time of 32.45.

Second went to Tadhg Beecher riding his father Tim’s Loughnatousa Flamenco (Je T’aime Flamenco x Cruising). Bred by Vincent Burton, they stopped the clock at 33 seconds. Martina McCrory’s home-bred mare OKE Dixieland Rock (Elvis Ter Putte x Cobra), ridden by Brendan Murphy, took third.

Clare Abbott and her own Mt Luxaan (Cazaan x Lux Z), a mare bred by Gareth Carlisle, finished fourth while fifth place went to Jane Gibbons’ Ceide Candy Heart (Garryduff Jar of Hearts x Sligo Candy Boy), ridden by junior Stephen Gibbons, and bred by Mary Walsh.

Sixth went to Martin Egan’s Castlefield Atlantic (Wido x Welcome Diamond), bred by Michael F. Shanahan, with Clare Fisher in the saddle.

The overall winner of the five-year-old studbook series on a score of 33, earned over five competitions, was Linda Courtney’s LCC Dunard Lady Dominator (Dominator 2000 Z x Captain Clover), ridden by her daughter Annie, and bred by Colm Cuffe.

Double joy

Monbeg Sport Horses had cause for a double celebration last Wednesday when they were named as the winners of both the six and seven-year-old studbook series.

After placing at every leg of the series, the six-year-old Monbeg Sapphire, by Sheikh It out of Visage Van’t Paradijs (Landetto), bred by Brendan Doyle and ridden by Marti Rudd, earned 30 points to secure the overall title.

Victory in the class on the day went to BWE Vain Hero (Ugadi Hero Z x Darco), owned and bred by Brian McConville and ridden by Shane O’Reilly, when they produced the only double clear over the 1.35m track.

Second went to Max O’Reilly Hyland aboard his own home-bred Rock Warrior (Casalla La Silla x Castor) as the fastest four-faulter in the five-way jump-off. Meabh Bolger and rider Jason Higgins’ Dutch stallion MBF Maxwell (Do Spiritivo x Damiro) were third, while Aisling Doherty’s Sydney PMD (Quidam junior x Cumano) took fourth for breeder Patrick O’Dea and rider Olivia Roulston.

Fifth was Lt Michaeli Byrne with the Minister For Defence’s Stacey Babes-bred Dunboyne (Elvis Ter Putte x Sibon W), while sixth went to Clem McMahon and his own Mr Sirrocco (Zirocco Blue x Taloubet Z), bred by Leanne Marshall.

Seven-year-old title

Tomas Doyle won the overall seven-year-old title aboard the home-bred Monbeg Ruby on Wednesday. Owned and bred by his wife Marti Rudd, he is by Diamant de Semilly out of Ballycapple Mist (Boherdeal Clover). The pair won the series on a score of 37 having placed third in the final at Tattersalls.

The class was won by Baden Powell’s home-bred Curraghraigue Jack Bro (Orestus x Errigal Flight). Ridden by Gemma Phelan, they stopped the clock at 34.55 in the seven-strong decider to secure the win. Dermot Walsh’s LVS Goldrush (Stakkato Gold x Stakkato), ridden by Ethen Ahearne and bred by Heritage Bloodstock Ltd, took the runner-up spot in 34.77.

Series winner Monbeg Ruby was third in 35.37, while Emma O’Dwyer with her own and Heather Blair’s Black Ball II (Diamond Roller x Camiro De Haar Z) took fourth for breeder John Kearney. Loughnatousa Echo (Royal Concorde x Loughnatousa Kimberley) was ridden by Tadhg Beecher into fifth for owner/breeder Tim Beecher, while Shane Moloney rode the Marion Hughes-bred HHS Disney (Diamant de Semilly x Heritage Fortunes) to take sixth for owners Helen O’Regan and John Hoyne.