Red-hot Irish riders help five-star teams to victory across the globe

Richard Howley and Consulet de Prelet Z,  winners of the Cashel Palace Stakes at the Dublin Horse Show Photo: Laurence Dunne / jumpinaction.net

It was an excellent day for the Irish in five-star action yesterday, with a host of riders enjoying success across the globe.

Richard Howley, off the back of a brilliant showing at the Dublin Horse Show, kept his momentum going with a productive day in Valkenswaard on the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Sligo’s Howley and 12-year-old gelding Consulent de Prelet Z landed the 1.60m CSIO5* Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes after jump-off in the RDS last week and the pair were a fine third in Valkenswaard yesterday.

Only Max Kuhner and the Irish Sport Horse Up Too Jacco Blue, followed by teammate and world number one Henrick von Eckermann with Glamour Girl, finished ahead of Howley and his mount in the €100,000 GCT 1.60m class.

It followed a superb CSI2* win earlier in the day for Howley on board Farianne, the pair coming home clear in a time of 61.27 seconds, over a second clear of Sweden’s Evalina Towek and Herrald, with Turkish rider Derin Demirsoy and Caprice D’Elle completing the podium in third.

Sandwiched between those results, Howley was an excellent sixth place on Mansini Ltd in the €56,000 CSI5* 1.55m class, a result that helped his team, the Scandinavian Vikings, to runner-up spot in the Global Champions League.

Howley told HSI after his fantastic day: “I’m delighted to have jumped two clear rounds for the Scandinavian Vikings and get another podium finish.

“Both my horses are in fantastic form and it’s great to be able to bring results for the team. Mansini is really proving himself at this level and consulent is feeling great.

“I’m looking forward to the rest to the week with my horses.”

Team victory went to the St Tropez Pirates, with Kildare’s Mikey Pender playing a starring role on board Irish Sport Horse HHS Catwalk.

The Bravo Hughes Ltd-owned 11-year-old jumped an impeccable clear round in as time of 78 seconds to help the team of Pender, Simon Delestre and Marlon Zanotelli to victory.

Across the Atlantic, Conor Swail helped his team, Trelawny Trailblazers, to victory in the five-star Major League Showjumping, Toronto at Angelstone.

A double clear on board Casturano helped the team of Swail, Daniel Bluman with Gemma W and Nayel Nassar with El Conde to the big win in the $409,000 MLSJ FEI 5* Cabana Coast team competition.

BREEDING:

Up Too Jacco Blue (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Chacco Blue (MECKL) out of Celestial Up Too (ISH) by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN). Breeder: Mark Sherry, Co. Wicklow. Owner: Hans Christian Jacobsen. Rider: Max Kühner (AUT).

HHS Catwalk (ISH) – 2012 mare by Cit Cat (HOLST) out of HHS Clo Jo (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Thomas A Hughes, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).