Murphy and Electric Cruise eighth in top level French event with three Cruising offspring in top eight

IRELAND’S Joseph Murphy and his Cruising gelding Electric Cruise finished eighth amongst 72 of the world’s top combinations in the four-star event in Pau, France today.

The Pau three-day event is one of only six four-star events in the world and Murphy added just four faults in today’s difficult show jumping phase following an outstanding clear in yesterday’s attritional cross country phase, to leave him on a final score of 58.7 for eighth place.

Mullingar-born Murphy finished 14th in the London Olympics with the same horse, which is owned by Noel Good, Jill Andrews and Annette O’Callaghan.

The event was also a very positive one for Irish breeding, with three Irish Sport Horses finishing in the top eight. Remarkably all three are by the great sire Cruising.

As well as Murphy’s mount in eighth, Mr Medicott was fourth under US rider Phillip Dutton while Mr. Cruise Control was fifth with New Zealand rider Andrew Nicholson.

The event was won by British rider William Fox- Pitt riding Catherine Witt’s Seacookie.

BREEDING

Electric Cruise (ISH) – 2001 chestnut gelding by Cruising (ISH) out of Kilnamac Sally (ISH), by Clover Hill (ID). Bred by James J Ryan, Co. Tipperary. Owner: Noel Good, Jill Andrews & A O’Callaghan. Rider: Joseph Murphy (IRL)