Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) awarded 5 Star Status in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook
- 17 December 2024, 19:36
Horse Sport Ireland, on behalf of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, are delighted to announce the new upgraded 5* Star Rating of the 2009 Irish Sport Horse stallion Sligo Candy Boy, achieved by the performances of his Eventing progeny.
Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) at the 2024 Stallion Showcase in Cavan Equestrian Centre on March 22nd. Photo Credit – Laurence Dunne/JumpInAction.net
Bred and owned by Padraig and Catherine Howley in Sligo West Stud, this son of Balou Du Rouet (OLD) competed with Vincent Howley as a young horse, including qualifying for the RDS Dublin Horse Show as a four-year-old. He later competed up to 1.20m as a five- and six-year-old before retiring to stud.
Sligo Candy Boy’s dam Sligo Candy Girl (ZfdP) by Conley (Holst) is also the dam of Sligo Balou (ISH), a full brother to Sligo Candy Boy, ridden at 1.35m and 1.40m level by Gary Quinn.
Sligo Candy Girl is also a half-sister to All You Need (Holst) by Canturo (Holst), who competed at 1.45m level with Christian Hess (GER), and is the dam of Chin Cham Cham (Holst) who is competed by Irish international rider Aisling Byrne at 1.45m level.
Sligo Candy Boy also descends from the same damline as Candyboy 2 (KWPN), the Grand Prix ride of Spanish rider Pedro Mateos Bernaldez, a combination that helped Spain to a fourth place team finish in the 2007 European Young Rider Showjumping Championships in Auvers, France.
Sligo Candy Boy’s damline also boasts horses such as Rebeca LS (SLS), who competed internationally at 1.60m with France’s Edward Levy, Out Of The Blue SCF (BWP-NAD) who is competing internationally with Katherine Dinan for the USA, and, Paso Doble SCF (BWP-NAD) who is currently competing at 1.50m level with Irish rider Philip McGuane.
Based on the results of his international Three-Day Eventing progeny, Sligo Candy Boy has been awarded a 5* EV PP merit in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook.
To achieve 5* status for eventing progeny, a stallion must have two or more progeny that earn Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) at CCI4*-L or CCI5*-L level.
An MER is achieved when a horse and rider combination has no more than 45 penalty points in the dressage test (minimum of 55% dressage good marks), no more than 16 show jumping penalties and is clear jumping cross country.
The first of the counting progeny for Sligo Candy Boy was Cooley Candyman (ISH). A 2013 gelding, out of Dashing Hill (ISH), by Flame Hill (ISH), and bred by Thomas Anthony Jones in Co. Sligo. He achieved both of his MERs at the CCI4*-L in Leesburg, VA (USA) with Bruce Davidson where the combination came 2nd in 2021 and 7th in 2024.
The second of the counting progeny for Sligo Candy Boy is Sligo Candy Cane (ISH), a 2013 gelding bred by Noel Ruane in Co. Sligo, out of Castlemly Lass (ISH) by Aldatus Z (OLD).
He achieved his MERs when finishing 2nd with Australian rider William Levett in the CCI4*-L in Millstreet (IRL) in 2022, and for his victorious performance in the 2024 CCI4*-L in Montelibretti, Italy.
William Levett (AUS) and Sligo Candy Cane (ISH) competing at the CHIO Aachen, Germany in 2023.
©Irish Eventing Times
Sligo Candy Boy has also been awarded a 4* SJ PP merit in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook for his showjumping progeny.
To achieve 4* status, a stallion must have sired at least two progeny who have jumped two double clear rounds in two-round or jump off classes at a height of 1.45m at CSI3* or CSIO3* level.
One of the counting progeny for Sligo Candy Boy was Tempo Manor (ISH). A 2012 gelding, out of Roxy Lux (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann), and bred by Noel Wright in Co. Sligo.
A cornerstone of the Army Equitation School in recent years, Tempo Manor is ridden by Cmmdt. Geoff Curran and together this combination have represented Ireland in the winning Nations Cup in the 2023 CSIO3*-EEF in Bratislava, Slovakia.
They also won the CSI4* 1.50m Two-Phase in St. Tropez – Grimaud, France in 2022. They have also had a third-place finish in the1.50m Two-Phase in Kronenberg, The Netherlands at their CSIO3*-EEF show in 2023.
Tempo Manor (ISH) & Cmmdt. Geoff Curran competing at the 2024 CSIO5* RDS Dublin Horse Show. PhotoCredit – Sportfot
Sligo Candy Boy is also the sire of MGH Candy Girl (ISH), a 2013 mare bred by Timthy Kelleher in Co. Cork, out of the traditionally bred mare Kilnamac Holly (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH] and ridden by British rider Matthew Sampson.
This duo have been victorious at in the 1.50m Defender Challenge Stakes at the 2024 CSI5* show in Windsor, GBR. Their victory in the 1.45m Two Phase at Vejer De La Frontera, ESP in 2023 also contributed to Sligo Candy Boy achieving his 4* SJ PP merit in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook.
MGH Candy Girl (ISH) & Matthew Sampson (GBR) competing at the CSI5* in Spruce Meadows, Canada in 2023. PhotoCredit – Sportfot
Speaking to Horse Sport Ireland on the upgrade of Sligo Candy Boy to 5* merit, his owner and breeder Padraig Howley had the following to say:
“We are so proud that Sligo Candy Boy has achieved 5 Star status in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook. We’re also delighted to see so many horses at top level in eventing and showjumping, competing internationally in so many countries by him.
His young stock are still in demand, and just this year Jim Doyle’s 4-year-old gelding was sold for €50,000 and was the second highest price at the “Go for Gold” Sales.
Many horses by him have achieved high figures over the years, including in 2021 when a 3-year-old filly owned by Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger was overall price topper at the sales and sold for a whopping 82,000 euro.We’re very excited to have Sligo Cavalier Candy (ISH) by Sligo Candy Boy at stud now too. This four-year-old stallion was awarded Preliminary Approved status at the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Stallion Selections in the spring of 2024. We look forward to seeing him follow in his sire’s hoofprints”
Horse Sport Ireland review stallion classifications and star rating criteria on an ongoing basis for the Irish Sport Horse and Irish Sports Pony Studbooks. Owners and agents of approved stallions may submit them for star rating review either through their own performance or that of their progeny by contacting [email protected].
To see Sligo Candy Boy’s stallion page please CLICK HERE
Sligo Candy Boy appeared at the 2024 Irish Sport Horse Stallion Selections for his official approval atCavan Equestrian Centre on March 22nd.
His video from his appearance at that event is available here:
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