DAFM Studbook Series heats up at the top of the leaderboard after Leg 4

Leg 4 of the DAFM Studbook Series, delivered by Horse Sport Ireland; the National Federation, moved to Barnadown for their Premier Series Grand Prix show from May 10^th – 12^th.

This was the second of the two-day legs with the qualifiers on Saturday, and the finals on Sunday.

In Sunday’s 7-Year-Old final, 24 combinations came forward to contest the class, with Co. Wicklow’s Max O’Reilly-Hyland claiming the spoils with the home-bred Rock Warrior (ISH) by Casall (HOLST) out of Cassi (SWB) by Castor (HOLST).
A blistering pace in the jump off saw him take the win in a time of 40.24 seconds, just slotting in ahead of second placed Harry Wood riding for the Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables.
Wood, who’s been riding for the Tipperay-based outfit since late 2023 piloted Pembrook Corbetts Lane (ISH) to a podium finish in a time of 41.08 seconds with the gelding by Kannan (KWPN). The dam, MHS Pembrook Lady (ISH) by Guidam (SF) is a half-sister to MHS Going Global, Greg Broderick’s Aga Khan winning, and Rio Olympic mount.
Third place went to league leader Shane O’Reilly with BWE Special Rose (ISH). This pairing broke the beam in the 9-horse jump off in a time of 41.18 seconds, just .10 behind the runner-up.
O’Reilly will be aiming to maintain his position in the 7-Year-Old league and go one better than his overall runner-up position in the 2023 6-Year-Old league.

Max O’Reilly-Hyland and Rock Warrior (ISH) winners of the 7-Year-Old final at Barnadown. Photo by Laurence Dunne/jumpinaction.net

A change of format for 2024 sees all horses in the 5- and 6-Year-Old classes get to jump both rounds of their respective classes, this is to facilitate the production horses and give them more experience in the ring.

In the 6-Year-Old final, there was 27 horses competing and 9 went double clear to divide the prize money. Of those double clear rounds, two were jumping by the Preliminary Approved stallions with the Irish Sport Horse Studbook; Boleybawn Alvaro (ISH) and Sandro Van De Berghoeve (BWP) ridden by Niamh McEvoy and Max Foley respectively, and one was jumped by Jump The Gun (WSI) and Nicholas Connors, the combination that took the runner-up spot in the Consolation Final for 5-Year-Old horses at the 2023 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championship for Young Showjumping Horses in Lanaken, Belgium for the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland.
Vincent Byrne also jumped double clear with CSF Thomascourt Zena (ISH) to further bolster his position at the top of the league table.

Vincent Byrne and CSF Thomascourt Zena (ISH). Double clear in the 6-Year-Old final in Barnadown and top of the 6-Year-Old league.
Photo by Laurence Dunne/jumpinaction.net

In the 5-Year-Old final, 35 horses came forward to tackle John Doyle’s course with 10 combinations jumping double clear. Among those was Shaunagh Thompson who was double handed in the class with both Tanagra Van Orshof (BWP) and Ballinrobe (ISH) to put their first points on the board for 2024, while Brendan Murphy and Kincullia Draco (ISH) owned by Maurice Cousins were also among the double clears to bolster their position at the top of the 5-Year-Old table of the as we head into the mid-season break in the DAFM Studbook Series.

Shaunagh Thompson and Tanagra Van Orshof (BWP) jumping clear in the 5-Year-Old final.
Photo by Laurence Dunne/jumpinaction.net

The league now takes a break for the duration of the RDS Qualifiers and will resume with Leg 5, the final one-day show in Maryville Stables on July 6^th.

5-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE TABLE

6-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE TABLE

7-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE TABLE

Breeding:

Rock Warrior (ISH) – 2017 gelding by CASALL LA SILLA (HOLST), out of CASSI (SWB) by CASTOR (HOLST). Breeder & Owner: Barbara O’Reilly-Hyland. Rider: Max O’Reilly-Hyland (IRL)

Pembrook Corbetts Lane (ISH) – 2017 gelding by KANNAN (KWPN) out of MHS PEMBROOK LADY (ISH) by GUIDAM (SF). Breeder: Kilmashogue Stud. Owner: GBBS Ltd. Rider: Harry Wood (GBR)

BWE Special Rose (ISH) – 2017 mare by I’M SPECIAL DE MUZE (BWP) out of KILCORIG ROSE (ISH) by CAMIRO DE HAAR Z (ZANG). Breeder & Owner: Brian McConville. Rider: Shane O’Reilly (IRL)

The DAFM Studbook Series is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under National Breeding Services and is delivered by Horse Sport Ireland; the National Federation.