The first of the Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series qualifiers was held at Midleton Show last weekend. It was a strong start to the series with a huge increase in entries from last year’s show. Conor Higgins and Eddie Doran were charged with the task of judging the two classes which amassed over 25 entries combined.
The novice class boasted 16 entries but it was Mr Adjudicator and Aine Phelan that were deemed the eventual winners. The 11 year old gelding by Cammacho started his career on the flat before being trained by Willie Mullins under National Hunt rules winning just over €250,000 during his career. Speaking after her win, a delighted Phelan said “I wasn’t expecting this, I’m absolutely thrilled with him. I haven’t competed in so long I felt a bit rusty but I’m really enjoying getting back into it.” The 11 year-old gelding was bought by Aine’s father for David Bobbett who had great success with him when he was in training with Willie Mullins. “He was a great servant to the Bobbett family winning the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle Grade 1 at Leopardstown in 2018, he always came to our farm for his holidays each year. When he retired last year he came to us as normal and then this spring I thought I’d bring him in and see if we could have some fun!”
It was the dream return to the show ring for Breid Shannon when she steered Champagne Platinum into second place on her first time back in the show ring for 14 years. The 11 year old gelding by Stowaway ran 30 times under rules for JP McManus and was trained in Ireland by Enda Bolger. “We only got him in mid March so for him to do what he did yesterday was brilliant.” “My Dad does a little bit of driving for Enda and fell in love with him nearly two years ago so when we received a call that he was now retired in Martinstown we jumped at the chance to have him.” Speaking about their future plans, Breid said that they would “take it slow as he only came out of training in September so I don’t want to rush him. My daughter might take over the ride as I also have Birchdale at home too. Dublin is also a dream but one step at a time for now!”
In the open section there were plenty of familiar faces lining up to try get their ticket to the final but it was Askforbigmoney and Vincent Phelan who continued their consistent form in the show ring who took the win. “I’m delighted with him – I went to a Treo Eile jumping clinic with Tomas Ryan the day before and it really settled him!” said Phelan. “It was a competitive class with a lot of good horses. The aim again this year is the Dublin Horse Show and now the final of the Showing Pathway Series but I’m also going to do a few riding horse classes as after two years in training I feel he’s in good condition for that and he’s riding so well too.” Taking second place on the day was Act in Time and Alannah Budds. Though the partnership is new on the showing circuit, they know each other very well having teamed up numerous times on the Point-to-Point track. “In 2020, I was looking for an open lightweight horse and I was very lucky Tom Busteed got Act in Time for Terence O’Brien to train and for me to ride in Point-to-Points. It’s an opportunity I am so grateful for as I gained so much experience” a delighted Budds told us. “When he was to retire there was no doubt he was going to come home with me!” With aims for Dublin Horse Show qualifiers on the cards, Budds was quick to praise those around her for their support, “Big thanks has to go to Pauline Dahill and Donie McAuliffe, they bring him to the shows and without them I wouldn’t have a notion, and of course Tom Busteed who got me such a great horse for both point to points and now showing.”
The next qualifier in the series takes place at Raheendaw Horse & Pony Show on June 1st. Full details of the series can be found at www.treoeile.com.
