As if in tribute to their recently deceased sire, Cruising mares are dams to three of Ireland’s entry of 15 five-, six- and seven-year-olds for this weekend’s World Young Horse Championship at Lanaken, Belgium. It is a feature of our selection that the progeny of Irish performance mare crossings with Continental sires make up the bulk of our contenders.

The three Cruising dams (Brian Livingstone’s Simply Chic, David Hogan’s Sea Beauty and Oliver Walsh’s Santa Fe) were covered respectively by OBOS Quality (Old), Lux Z (Hann) and Silvano (KWPN) to produce one entry in each of the three categories.

In addition to Cruising, King of Diamonds, Coolcaum Hill, Spring Elegance and sire of last year’s five-year-old champion Arraghbeg Clover Captain Clover are all represented in the dam lines of our entry.

The sires of our 15 are well spread across the Continental stud books. Four are KWPN, there are three Hannovarian and Holsteiner representatives, along with two Oldenburg and one each of Selle Francaise and Belgian Warmblood lineage. The only one by a thoroughbred is the seven-year-old Shantonagh, by Power Blade, who was bred out of the former army jumping mare Diamond Explosion by Dermot Forde.

Jumping gets under way today at the massive event and will conclude with the championships on Sunday.

Five-year-olds

Deep Pockets (ISH) – 2009 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Simply Chic (ISH), by Cruising (ISH). Bred by Charles Pidgeon, Co Westmeath. Owner/Rider: Jim Derwin.

Graf Balouprint (ISH) – 2009 mare by Balou Du Rouet (OLD) out of Graf Ladylady (ISH), by Limmerick (HOLST). Bred by Brian Livingstone, Co Down. Owner: Catherine Thornton & Brian Livingstone. Rider: Catherine Thornton.

LCC Crystal (ISH) – 2009 mare by Lux Z (ZANG) out of Sillot Sea Beauty (ISH), by Cruising (ISH). Bred by David Hogan, Co Clare. Owner/Rider: Linda Courtney.

LCC Puss N Boots (ISH) – 2009 gelding by Lux Z (HANN) out of Spring Pride (WNTR), by Spring Elegance (WNTR). Bred by Andrew Kirwan, Co Waterford. Owner: Linda Courtney. Rider: Lucy Buchanan.

LCC Troy (ISH) – 2009 gelding by Clinton (HOLST) out of Ark Of Diamonds (ISH), by VDL Arkansas (KWPN). Owner/Bred by Linda Courtney Cadam, Co Antrim. Rider: Linda Courtney.

Six-year-olds

Good Lux Lucy (ISH) – 2008 mare by Lux Z (HANN) out of Donogue Cavalier Girl (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Bred by George Hill, Co Monaghan. Owner: Peter O’Toole. Rider: Daniela O’Toole.

Highly Efficient (ISH) – 2008 mare by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan (BWP) out of Derha Fort (ISH), by Coolcaum Hill (ID). Bred by Senan Canny, Co Clare. Owner: Amanda Kirwan. Rider: Tholm Keane.

LCC Hello Kate (ISH) – 2008 mare by Luidam (KWPN) out of LCC Molly (ISH), by Courage II (HOLST). Bred by Fr Simon Cadam, Co Antrim. Owner: Linda Courtney. Rider: Lucy Buchanan.

Lenamore Lucy Lou (ISH) – 2008 mare by Lux Z (HANN) out of Going Dutch (ISH), by Dutch Courage (ISH). Bred by Barbara Fitzpatrick, Co Dublin. Owner: Geraldine Graham. Rider: Kenneth Graham.

Mini Cruzano (ISH) – 2008 mare by Silvano (KWPN) out of Hyundai Santa Fe (ISH), by Cruising (ISH). Bred by Oliver Walsh, Co Galway. Owner: Leona Walsh. Rider: Thomas O’Brien.

Seven-year-olds

Brookwood Supersonic (ISH) – 2007 mare by Concorde (KWPN) out of Brookwood First Lady (ISH), by Captain Clover (ISH). Owner/Bred by Pat Duffy, Co Kildare. Rider: Sean Kavanagh.

Erne Ladygoldilocks (ISH) – 2007 mare by Ard VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Erne Touch (ISH). Owner/Bred by Hugh Fitzpatrick, Co Cavan. Rider: Francis Connors.

KMS Clintland (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Clinton (HOLST) out of Uganna (KWPN), by Corland (HOLST). Owner/Bred by Ivor Broderick, Co Galway. Rider: Neal Fearon.

Lates Du Carel (ISH) – 2007 mare by Harlequin Du Carel (SF) out of Phillies Corner (ISH), by Kalypso (KWPN). Bred by Thomas Ryan, Co Tipperary. Owner: Hilda Anthony. Rider: Francis Connors.

Shantonagh (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Power Blade (TB) out of Diamond Explosion (ISH), by King Of Diamonds (ID). Owner/Bred by Dermot Forde, Co Cavan. Rider: Nicola FitzGibbon.

Kenny’s New York hat-trick

Fresh from a superb performance at the World Equestrian Games, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny maintained his good form to score a hat-trick at the four-star New York show in North Salem.

With the 10-year-old-Irish-bred stallion Gatsby, he first won the Welcome Stakes and went on to take the Gold Cup Grand Prix qualifier on the same grey stallion who is out of a Cruising mare and by the Heartbreaker sire Simba.

On the Saturday Darragh took the US Speed Derby on Prof de la Roque ahead of Ronan McGuigan on Capall Zidane by Concorde.

Allen third in GP

At Lausanne, Switzerland, there was no Irish luck in the Global Champions Tour but Bertram Allen came third on Romanov in Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Spuce Masters

At a snow-clad Spruce Meadows in Calgary, the Irish team of Conor Swail, Dermott Lennon, Billy Twomey and Shane Breen did not make the cut for the second round of the Nations Cup that was won by the home side ahead of USA and Belgium. Shane and Conor came second and third in the Akito Speed Championship on Calido Boy and Martha Louise.