Traditional Irish Horses for traditional Irish weather at Mondial du Lion

  • 19 October 2024, 18:20

On one of the fleeting October blue-sky Saturdays in Ireland, the Irish Studbooks teams faced all seasons today for the cross-country section of the World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Mondial Du Lion, France. The rain made what is a typically challenging track for these young horses, that little bit more testing.

The six-year-olds were first out this morning, over an almost 4.5km track with an optimum time of 8:38 over 20 jumping efforts. The Kieran Fahey bred Kief Rhapsody of Belline (ISH) ridden by Noel Dunne making it round the course well, just outside the time adding 16.8 penalties to their score, putting them in 20th place coming into tomorrow’s jumping phase. Cathal Daniels and Independent Article (ISH), also just outside the time added 12.4 penalties and followed closely in 21st place.

FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championship for Young Horses (6YO) at Le Lion Noel Dunne KIEF RHAPSODY OF BELLINE (ISH) Image: Irish Eventing Times

In the 7-year-old section, five Irish Studbook team horses now sit inside the top twenty over a course of 22 efforts and 9:07min optimum time. The Irish studbooks teams ranking is led by Bridget McGing’s traditionally bred Inquisitor (ISH)[TIH], ridden by Ian Cassells. The pair stormed the course clear and inside the time, remaining on their Dressage score heading into the jumping phase. This has moved them up 9 places from yesterday, now sitting in 8th position in a field of 64 competitors.

FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championship for Young Horses (7YO) at Le Lion Ian Cassells and INQUISITOR (ISH)[TIH] Image: Irish Eventing Times

We spoke to the Irish studbooks team Chef, Dag Albert about today’s performance:

The cross country was hard today, the conditions were pretty tough. There has been a good bit of rain right across the week so far. It was very slippy for the 6-year-olds. Robbie was very unfortunate to take a tumble on the flat on a turn, the mare’s legs just went – she did her best to recover. Most importantly they are both ok! The 7-year-olds, we have five in the top 20.

In general, they have all done really well. Quite a few inside the time and just a small number carrying time faults. These are young horses; they have done the biggest stamina test ever in their lives today. We will check them again shortly, let them recover nicely overnight. On a normal day they are all pretty good jumpers, so I am hopeful that we will have a good day tomorrow!

The 6-year-old show jumping section begins on Sunday (20th October) at 10am Irish time, 7-year-olds at 1:30pm Irish time. Irish Studbook team performance can be livestreamed HERE.

The leading 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse is Lady Roller, ridden by Izzy Taylor (GBR), currently occupying 5th position.
The leading 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse remains Calida Spice,  ridden by Lizzie Baugh (GBR) now sitting in 3rd position.

 

Irish Studbooks team: top 25 after cross country (6-year-olds)
20th Kief Rhapsody of Belline (ISH): Gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Lissangle Lux The Business (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Bred by Kieran Fahey, Co. Cork, owned by Jenny Curley and ridden by Noel Dunne (IRL)
21st Independent Article (ISH): Gelding by Tyson (KWPN) out of Sassie Cassie (ISH), by Cascaletto St. Ghyvan Z (ZANG). Bred and owned by Margaret Kinsella, Co. Galway and ridden by Cathal Daniels (IRL).
Irish Studbooks team: top 25 after cross country (7-year-olds)
8th Inquisitor (ISH)[TIH]. Gelding by Coroner (TB) out of Diamond Fleck (ISH)[TIH], by Coolcorron Cool Diamond (ISH)[TIH]. Bred and owned by Bridget McGing, Co. Kildare and ridden by Ian Cassells (IRL)
11th Kilroe Tiger (ISH). Gelding by Hype (KWPN) out of Coolcorron Imp (ISH)[TIH] by Master Imp (TB). Bred by Christopher O’Sullivan, Co. Cork, owned by Peter Cattell & Diane Brunsden and ridden by Padraig McCarthy (IRL).
13th MGH Hildare Harlequin (ISH). Gelding by Firkov Du Rouet (KPWN) out of Fair Dinkum II (AEAS), by Luidam (KWPN). Bred by Padraig McCarthy, owned by Anna Sims Hilditch and ridden by Danielle McCormack (IRL).
18th Shannondale Micah (ISH). Gelding by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan (BWP) out of Shannondale Maria (ISH), by Lux Z (HANN). Bred by Martin Walsh, Co. Clare, owned by Dr. Sarah Hughes and ridden by Cathal Daniels (IRL).
19th Greenogue Gigi (ISH). Mare by Je T’aime Flamenco (BWP) out of Quita (ISH), by Dow Jones Courcel (SF). Bred and owned by Con McCarthy, Co. Dublin, and ridden by Ian Cassells (IRL).
24th Kilroe Lego Land (ISH). Gelding by Cavalier Land (ISH) out of Gracefull Kate (TB), by Rashar (TB). Bred by Robert Moore, Co. Carlow, owned by Maurice Coleman and ridden by Godfrey Gibbons (IRL)

BREEDING

Lady Roller (ISH). Mare by Campaign Swing (TB) out of Corgar Roller (ISH) out of Corgar (ISH). Bred by Karl Kavanagh and ridden by Sally Wittvangen (SWE)

Calida Spice (ISH). Mare by Tyson (KWPN) out of Red Diamond Spice (ID) by Kind Henry (ID).
Bred by Eugene Killalea, Co. Mayo and ridden by Lizzie Baugh (GBR).

The Irish studbooks team participation in Le Lion D’Angers is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine under National Breeding Services.

The Team Ireland Equestrian Young Horse Squads for Jumping and Eventing are supported by Redmond Property Maintenance.