A former winner of the Autumn Grand Prix, John Floody has certainly got his 2017 campaign off to a good start as he recorded his second win of the Allianz Autumn Mini Grand Prix series, last Saturday at Wexford Equestrian.

He took the honours in the Leovet & Dpl Limited-sponsored Grand Prix with Brian Kieran’s HTS Blackrock, lodging a winning time of 39.13 seconds.

Speaking after the win, Floody said; “ I have been riding the stallion for a few years now and he has always been very consistent. He is very quick against the clock and I knew that I could push him. He is a super stallion with a very good temperament and a good brain, so that makes my job a bit easier.

“He has moved up to this level very well and hopefully he will continue to move up the ranks. I am delighted for his owner Brian Kieran as he has invested a lot into the industry in terms of breeding very nice horses.”

Bred by his owner Brian Kieran of Heynestown Stud in Dundalk, HTS Blackrock is a 10-year-old stallion by Rhyne Clover out of the Diamond Chin Mare Marilyn D Chin.

HTS Blackrock has three offspring registered, two of which were bred by Kieran, HTS Black Willow and HTS Redrock.

Peter Barnwall also has one foal on the ground out of the stallion which is out of Nethercross Tally.

SUCCESS FOR O’DONNELL

It was a also a good day for Waterford native Paddy O’Donnell as he took the runner-up spot with Maeve Al-Aidarous Louis’ D’Or when they crossed the line in 42.50. A 13-year-old gelding by Landcapitiol and out of the Grannus-sired mare Gina, this was the pair’s first show and the gelding’s first Grand Prix outing for some time, having previously been campaigned by Olive Clarke.

Not content with this placing O’Donnell also took fourth place with his own Minority Report when finishing fastest of the four faulters in 36.08. O’Donnell also took the win in the 1.25m class with Declan McGivern’s Hey There Delilah (Boherdeal x Balbina).

Francis Connors separated O’Donnell’s placings in the Grand Prix when he delivered the last of the double clears with Billy Daly’s homebred, Newmarket Clare Lady (Newmarket Jewel x Newmarket Clare) in 42.99.