The stands were packed for the Mo Chroí four-year-old championship, which took place in Simmonscourt last Saturday. Following much deliberation, judges Todd Minikus (USA), Scott Brash (UK) and Roger Yves Bost (France) found their champion in Greg Broderick’s gelding, ESI Star Struck. Although the gelding tied with Cullintra Stud’s stallion Quantino on a final score of 159, the judges favoured ESI Star Struck on the day and awarded him the title.

By Lamm de Fetan and out of a Tampa sire mare Halona De La Vie, ESI Star Struck was bred by Ennisnag Stud and broken at Ballypatrick Stud. He has been produced by Ethen Aherne since May.

A delighted Aherne said: “This horse has plenty of scope and has a great future. We will continue to produce it slowly. My other horse, Boleybawn Actor, bred by Ronan Rothwell, was sold to American owner Pearl Biedron. This horse won the qualifier earlier in the week, so it was a good week for us.”

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Six horses were put through their paces by international riders Paul O’Shea and Denis Lynch, who were full of praise for the six finalists. The other finalist included Patricia Kavanagh’s Galway Bay Pandora (Catherine Thornton), Edgar Hogg’s Intuitive (James Hogg), Clare Hughes HHS Athena (Maria Vozone) and Ronan Rothwell’s Boleybawn Actor (Ethen Ahearne).

After jumping a course of fences, it was Aherne and Boleybawn Actor in the lead, awarded a score of 82%. Little stood between the placings, however, as Vincent Byrne and Quantino delivered an impressive clear round and were awarded a score of 79%.

Five-year-old Championship

The best of our five-year-old show jumping horses also impressed, with 11 of 16 starters proceeding to the jump-off. Leading the victory lap in the Flexible championship was Gemma Phelan, riding a Luidam-sired horse, RVS Lui Fortunus. Out of Heritage Fortunus-sired mare Fortunus Lady, she is proving very consistent in the HSI and aged classes with Phelan.

The first double clear of the class was delivered by Philip McGuane, aboard Kilderry’s Joint Venture, in 32.20 for eventual fourth. His lead was short-lived, however, as Gemma Phelan and RVS Lui Fortunus’ gallop to the last oxer saw them clock the winning time of 30.98. Peter Moloney and Compelling Z didn’t put a foot wrong and a clear in 33.37 meant they accounted for fifth place.

Eddie Moloney put in a gallant attempt with Cruicerath Flexianna, but a clear in 31.96 saw him slot into second. Jordan Coyle’s decision to take the longer line to the last with KBS July Johnson, cost him seconds as he clocked 31.99 for third.

Ger O’Neill lodged the fastest round of the class with MHS Tamara in 30.08, but it came at a price as he faulted at the last oxer for eventual sixth.