Spanish win for Howley while Allen takes sixth in Netherlands €375,000 Rolex Grand Prix

Sligo’s Richard Howley came out on top in today’s (Sunday) three-star 1m50 Grand Prix at the Spanish Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera.

Ten combinations jumped clear in the opening round with Howley the sole Irish representative in the decider with the 14-year-old gelding Calmond (Clarimo x Ramiro’s S.II) who is owned by Neal Robinson.

Howley and Calmond (pictured above), were the only pairing to go clear in under 40 seconds against the clock and claimed the winners prize of €10,000 ahead of Dutch runner-up Eric Van der Vleuten with Zigal PS.

Wexford’s Bertram Allen meanwhile added to his weekend prize-winnings, with a sixth place finish in the five-star Rolex Grand Prix at s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands.

Riding the Noel Delahunty-owned stallion Hector van d´Abdijhoeve (Cabrio van de Heffinck x Utrillo van de Heffinck), Allen was one of seven combinations who made it into the jump-off in a competition with a huge €375,000 up for grabs. A single pole down against the clock denied Allen a chance to repeat his win from 24 hours earlier, however he still finished inside the top six to collect almost €17,000 to add to the €15,500 he won the previous evening with the gelding Quiet Easy.

Victory and a massive €124,000 went to Dutch rider Leopold van Asten and VDL Groep Zidane. It was a good day for the home nation with Dutch riders filling the top three places at the finish.

Across the Atlantic, three Irish Sport Horses finished in the top eight of the Longines World Cup qualifier at Ocala in Florida. Codarco (ISH) ridden by Chloe Reid (USA) took sixth place, one spot ahead of  Dougie Douglas (ISH) and Katie Dinan (USA) in seventh, while another Irish Sport Horse, The Kingdom, finished eighth with US-based Irish rider Christina Kelly. The winners prize in what was the last World Cup qualifier before the final in Omaha, USA, went to Todd Minikus (USA) and Babalou.

BREEDING

Codarco (ISH) – 2007 bay stallion by Darco (BWP) out of Vereedom G (KWPN), by Orame (KWPN). Breeder: Thomas O’Brien, Co. Galway. Owner: Chloe D Reid LLC. Rider: Chloe Reid (USA)

Dougie Douglas (ISH) – 2005 gelding by Ard VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Neills Girl (ISH), by High Roller (ISH). Breeder: John O’Brien, Co. Limerick. Owner: Grant Road Partners LLC. Rider: Katherine A. Dinan (USA)

The Kingdom (ISH) – 2006 bay gelding by Lux Z (HANN) out of Toss The Feathers (ISH), by Mohill Gypsy (ISH). Bred by Joe O’Flaherty, Co. Longford. Owner: EIS Ltd & Andrea O’Brien. Rider: Christina Kelly (IRL)