Let’s call it the Irish stallion assessment chart or whatever, but here is a modest proposal for a solution to the ongoing stallion inspection controversy.

The Irish Horse Board selected the Dutch model as a test some seven years ago. At that time, we in this paper wondered if it would suit the Irish temperament. It has not. And neither the other continental models. The suggestion has now been made that we leapfrog the other models and create a new one that has not been tried elsewhere, but which draws on the best elements of selection and would be uniquely Irish.

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In this proposal, no stallion is ever approved or not approved. Rather, their positives in terms of veterinary, conformation, performance and progeny are clearly recorded on their passports.

Here is how it might work. Take a three-year-old stallion. After his owner decides that he might make a good sire, he gets an official veterinary examination and if passed, he is awarded the first of his rainbow stamps in red on his stallion chart or passport. Following that, he could have conformation and movement assessment done at any number of shows or centres around the country by appointment with an official assessment team. A pass here would give him his orange stamp. Then it is on to his own performance. A good points achievement on the national circuit up to a determined level would give him his yellow stamp. Achievement on the international circuit would bring his green stamp and finally the success of his progeny could earn him his final rainbow stamp of blue.

He is never fully approved but his record and worth is recorded and noted in such a way that it cannot be erased.

As I say, it is a modest proposal but it could be something unique to us and better than abandoning the programme altogether.

Allen brothers dominate

Wexford’s Bertram Allen and younger brother Harry swept all before them with wins in Sweden and The Netherlands.

At the four-star show in Stockholm, Bertram (20) brought out his usual speed star Quiet Easy, by Quidam’s Rubin, to first win Saturday’s Speed and then aimed the 11-year-old gelding at their first major Grand Prix together on Sunday. They had one of just three double-clears to win by a full two seconds ahead of Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.

Meantime, Bertram’s younger brother Harry (14) had back-to-back wins in the Pony International at Lichtenvoorde, The Netherlands, with Wild Thing Z.

Swail wins Grand Prix

At Florida’s Palm Beach four-star show, Co Down show jumper Conor Swail took first on the mare Viva Columbia in the $212,000 Grand Prix. Drawn second-last to go in an eight-horse jump-off, he cut half a second off the time set by Eugenio Garza of Mexico for a winning purse of $75,000.

Also at Wellington, Florida, Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney won the Speed Classic on Alsvid.

CAS hearing

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed that the Horse Sport Ireland/Cian O’Connor hearing will be held on 16 December in Lausanne, Switzerland.

After hearing the parties’ arguments, the panel will deliberate and write an arbitral award which contains their decision and the reasoning behind it. No date has yet been released for the arbitral award.

Winner alright

Congratulations to Marie Sweeney of Ballycuddihy, Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, who was the winner of our Go Racing in Kildare competition. Many thanks to all who entered – there was a great response, both postal and online.