Despite challenging weather conditions, the first of eight qualifiers for the Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series took place at the Midleton Agricultural Show in Ballindenisk last Sunday. The series highlights Tattersalls Ireland’s continuing support for the aftercare of racehorses. The high standard of horses presented on the day was praised by judges Bernie Stack, Conformation, and Alice Copithorne, Ride Judge.
In the Novice section, Rosemarie Connors and the seven-year-old gelding, Craigs Cross, took the victory. Previously running on the Point to Point track, Craigs Cross has seamlessly transitioned to the show ring under the guidance of Treo Eile retrainer Connors. Emily Kate Robinson secured second place with A Plus Tard, a ten-year-old bay gelding who has shifted from a successful Grade 1 racing career to showing this year. This comes on the back of their success at Balmoral Show where they finished second in the ITBA Racehorse to Riding Horse class. Chloe Ahern and Salseros, fresh off the track with a recent second-place finish in a point-to-point earlier this month, took third.
The Open section saw Lois Chappell and Iskander Prince (pictured above) claim the top spot, improving on their second-place finish in last year’s qualifier at Clonmel Show . Vincent Phelan and Askforbigmoney, a Shirocco gelding, finished second, securing their place in this year’s final at the Royal Meath Show in September. The gelding finished sixth in the Novice Final in last year’s edition and they have already booked their ticket to the Dublin Horse Show after winning the Northern Ireland Festival qualifier. Jennifer Murphy and the 16-year-old gelding Dark Outsider rounded out the top three.
The next qualifier will be at Raheendaw Show on June 2nd, with further dates and information available here
Photo courtesy of Justin Black/Horse Sport Images
