TATTERSALLS IRELAND TREO EILE SHOWING PATHWAY QUALIFIER RAHEENDAW HORSE & PONY SHOW, JUNE 1 ST 2025
The Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series continues to gain momentum with twenty-six thoroughbreds entered for the second qualifier at Raheendaw Horse & Pony Show.
Compliments to the show for providing an arena to accommodate the entries, that came before judges Ben Rainey (Conformation) and Aileen Dwyer (Ridden).
The eight-time winner on the track, Khafaaq with Amy Kinane in the saddle stood top of the line in the novice section. With a day job lecturing Equine Science at Limerick University, Kinane credits her husband Paul, for sourcing the Helmet gelding for her. Spotted when in training with Andy Slattery and having the belief he would be a suitable candidate; there was a wait until his retirement in 2024 before the partnership commenced.
Heather Mackenzie with the fourteen-year-old Kalanisi gelding Brain Power, took the blue ribbon. Adaptability was to the fore in this class, as Brain Power’s CV also includes eight wins on the track, in addition to five on the point-to-point field.
Judges Rainey and Dwyer acknowledged the high standard in both sections, especially evident in the deliberations prior to the final line up in the Open section. The tip of the hat moved Sarah Phelan and Commanding Robin up one place to take the red ribbon.
The Robin des Champs gelding has a ‘Rags to Riches’ story as Sarah explained, “I was working for Liam Cusack and agreed to give Robin a home, when it was decided that racing wasn’t going to be his career.
He spent five years as a ‘paddock nanny’. He got a cut and his treatment included standing him in a river, so I decided to ride him there every day and he was a gent”. She continued, “What a day, he was fourth earlier in the Thoroughbred Working Hunter class, he won the Riding Horse class with Shelby Jaubert and now we have our qualifying ticket for the final in August!”.
Claire Connors and Creggs Cross also rose up the rankings, to take second place. Claire has taken over the ride on the Ocovango gelding from sister Rosemary, who had a winning debut with the eight-year-old last year. The Enniskillen Horse & Pony Show on Sunday June 22nd will host the third qualifier, with entries closing on June 15th .
Photos courtesy of Between The Ears Equine Videos
