PHENOMENE Bleu VDM won his first Gain Equine Nutrition/Alltech Ireland National Grand Prix for Galway rider Sven Hadley at Kernan’s Equestrian Centre last Sunday.

Owned by Belgian Axel Verlooy, the eight-year-old stallion is by Diamant De Semilly out of Nuance Bleue VDM Z, by Nabab De Reve.

Speaking to The Irish Field following the win, a delighted Hadley said: “I think he is very talented. He was clear in every Spring Tour Grand Prix that he jumped in and now to win a National Grand Prix is just class.

“He came over here to stand at stud when he was six years old and after a while Axel (Verlooy) asked me would I take him to do a few shows, and I’ve had him ever since.

“He’s by Diamant De Semilly, out of a very talented mare named Nuance Bleue VDM Z who, when partnered by Italian rider Lornezo de Luca, has several five-star wins and a Global Champions Tour win in Doha. She was very successful at 1.60m level. Phenomene was bred by the VDM Stud that bred Killer Queen and many other really good horses, and Axel bought him from them.

“He stands at stud here with us at the moment and for the rest of the year. He is very straightforward for a stallion, he’s easy enough to handle and is nice to ride, he goes in a snaffle. He has loads of scope. He has a bright future ahead of him.

“It’s tricky enough when they are covering to work in a competition schedule. He had a month off after the Spring Tour. I’ll be doing the National Grand Prix with him, and hopefully Hickstead at the end of June.

“He was superb on Sunday, he loves jumping so that makes it easy for him. There was a turn back towards the end of the track and I think I turned back a little bit quicker than the rest there and that’s where we made up the bit of time. He is naturally quick and the height is proving easy for him. I think he will definitely be a horse for the bigger classes.”

Kernan’s was the fifth of the 27-round league. Nine of the 21 starters managed to produce a first round clear to progress to the jump-off.

First to go was Harry Marshall riding his own mare Daylight VHS Z (Douglas x Indorado). The pair had finished second in the Spring Tour round at the venue in March but were not as fortunate here, collecting eight faults in the second round in a very fast time of 36.79 seconds.

Second in, Jamie Garland and Zedleppin (Luidam x Cavalier Royale) provided the first double clear when they left all the fences intact in a time of 41.79. This would be good enough for eventual third place.

Nicole Kershaw and Keonan Stables Ltd’s eight-year-old mare Fury (Cornet Obolensky x Aventyno Z) were next. They too had a fault-free round, and the faster time of 41.60 seconds earned them the runner-up spot.

Holly Miller partnered Darragh Ryan’s Belgian stallion Oberron Van ‘T Lohof to a double clear, coming home in 42.45 for fourth place.

Junior rider Francis Derwin Jnr, riding another Belgian-bred, the eight-year-old mare Parvanti AEG, owned by his father Francis, were fifth to go. They had two fences on the ground for eight faults.

Cavan’s Victoria Clarke and her own gelding Major Royale (O.B.O.S. Quality 004 x Cavalier Royale) produced a second round they would probably prefer to forget with an accumulation of faults that would see them well out of the prize list.

Foot-perfect

Next in was Hadley and Phenomene Bleu VDM. Their foot-perfect round in 39.82 saw them shoot straight into first place with just two horses left to jump.

The penultimate pair, young rider Katie McEntee riding Gerry Marron’s eight-year-old Kinmar Bespoke (O-Piloth x Aganix Du Seigneur) were unlucky to have one fence down in 44.89 which would be good enough for sixth place.

Last to go was Hadley aboard his other mount, his own mare Uidam (Luidam x Cavalier Royale). They left all the fences up, crossing the finish in 45.28 for fifth place. The next round of the National Grand Prix League takes place at Cavan Equestrian Centre tomorrow - Sunday, May 21st.