With six Irish-breds peppered among the top 40 in the World Breeding Federation Sport Horses rankings, Ireland has once again had its Irish Sport Horse studbook declared top in the world for eventers.

Happily, this is the 21st time in the 23 years of the prestigious rankings that we have occupied the top spot. HSI chair Professor Pat Wall extended his congratulations to the breeders this week.

When these ratings were established for the first time back in 1994 by the newly formed World Federation (WBFSH), Ireland took the title then and, except for two occasions since that time, we have managed to maintain our premier position. With pressure ever mounting from the German, French and Dutch studbooks, the achievement is one we should celebrate and be very proud of.

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The points were awarded for competition placings in the premier eventing competitions around the globe from October 2015 to the end of September 2016. During that time our six best performers, competing with Irish, British, American and New Zealand riders, accumulated a total of 1,402 points, well ahead of the Holsteiners who placed second on 1,173.

Heading our group of six was Olympic bronze medallist for the USA, Mighty Nice. The 12-year-old gelding by Ard Ohio (KWPN) was bred by William Kells in Co Cavan and sold at the Cavan Sales.

This season he was ridden to good placings by USA’s Philip Dutton in Lexington, Elkon Maryland and Luhmuhlen. Following his podium finish at Rio he is now ranked number two in the world.

Placings

Next in the rankings for us is Cooley Rorkes Drift, who is by Courage II out of a mare by the thoroughbred sire Rachelle Comet. The 10-year-old gelding was bred in Co Down by William McCarrison and having had a top 10 finish at the Olympics with Ireland’s Jonty Evans, he is now ranked 17th.

Just behind him in 18th place is Ringwood Sky Boy, also by courage II and out of a Sky Boy mare. He was bred in 2003 by Myles Mahon in Wexford.

With two big wins to his credit at Harepury and Burgham, the 2002 gelding One Two Many is ranked 25th for Britain’s Nicola Wilson. He is by the Holsteiner Chacoa, out of a Colin Diamond (ISH) dam and was bred in Limerick by John O’Brien.

In 29th place is Fernhill Fugative, a nine-year-old gelding by Lux Z and out of a Ramiro B dam, who was bred by Maurice Cousins in Wexford. He too is ridden for the USA by Philip Dutton.

Finally in 33rd place is ODT Ghareeb, by the great Gareeb (TB) and out of a Tulla Flight dam. The 12-year-old was bred by Sean Grier in Kilkenny. He is now ridden by Britain’s Oliver Townend and earlier this year had a second and then a third at Blair Castle and Burgham.

Commenting on our success, Prof Wall said: “It is encouraging that we are holding our own at the top of the rankings, while some of our competitor studbooks are now focusing on eventing. We need to maintain our focus on breeding the correct type and producing the young horses appropriately. But this is great news for Irish breeding.”

Le Lion d'Angers

Meanwhile, there were no medals for the Irish at the World Young Horse Eventing Championships in Le Lion d’Angers, France, last weekend.

Best for Ireland in the six-year-old class was Gary Hadden’s Business Class, who slotted into seventh place overall when ridden by Sophie Richards. The chesnut gelding by Harlequin Du Carel (SF), who is out of a Quick Star (SF) dam, was bred by Wicklow’s Don Hadden.

Margaret Kinsella’s Sammy Davis Junior was the best of the Irish horses in the seven-year-old championship when finishing in 14th. Ridden by Cathal Daniels, the gelding by Imperial Heights (ISH) is out of a Condios (HOLST) dam and was bred by Amanda Vogan in Co Cavan.

Dutch studbook KWPN took gold in the six-year-olds while the Holsteiners were successful in the seven-year-old class.

World Cup points

Delivering the first of 15 first round clears on his new 10-year-old mare Market Irmenca, Ireland’s Shane Breen picked up nine valuable points at the second Western European League qualifier for the Longines World Cup in Helsinki last Sunday.

First in against the clock with the mare by Irco Mena out of a Tinka’s Boy dam, he put up a fast time of 32.26 seconds, but with the second part of the double down he had to eventually settle for joint eighth along with Dutchman Maikel Van Der Vleuten, who had one down in the exact same time.

For the second year in a row, Romain Duguet of Switzerland came out on top. This time he had the fastest of six double clears on the Kannan mare Quoride de Treho. Bertram Allen and his Kannan mare Molly Molone had three down in the first round. They had jumped clear for fourth in Saturday’s Speed.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Daniel Coyle had a superb win last weekend when taking the $100,000 Grand Prix at the big Washington International on Sue and Ariel Grange’s Fortis Fortuna.