Nail-biter at National Balmoral
The final of the 2025 DAFM Studbook Series took place over the weekend at the National Balmoral Championships. The chance to top the league was wide open with all hopeful pairings within points of each other, across the age groups. The 2025 DAFM Studbook Series is funded under National Breeding Services by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and delivered by Horse Sport Ireland.
The 5 Year Olds final took centre stage early on Sunday morning, with the top 25 pairings, of 50 entries, qualifying from Saturday’s opening round. Ennisnag’s Unicum-H (BWP) narrowly missed out on Sunday’s final, falling just outside the Top 25, which meant steady poles was all that separated Robyn Moran and Kilbrackan Stakatto (ISH), from the 2025 5-Year-Old League title. A double clear from this pair was more than enough to secure the title for Robyn, also placing 4th overall in the class. Harry Wood and Boleybawn Alexa (ISH) were the day’s winner for the class, with Max Foley capturing the League Young Rider title.
The 6-Year-Old final went down to the wire when Emer Kavanagh & MMS Alexa (ISH) failed to qualify for the final, while sitting atop the league table. 24 pairings of 56 entries, made it through to Sunday’s final. Tholm Keane needed a clear round to move in to pole position, but with a pole down in the first round of the final, it was ultimately Emer & MMS Alexa’s (ISH) day. Jack Ryan beat all the competition to win the class with Donal & David Lynch’s mare, Thera Van Heiste (BWP). Conor Hayes and Gailes Dream Girl (ISH) took the League Young Rider award, having done enough in previous legs.
MMS Alexa’s breeder Mary McShane was a very proud breeder this weekend. “Her mother MMS Camila jumped the Studbook Series as a young horse too. She qualified for Dublin every year until she was 7. She had a great record, she jumped to 1.45, she jumped in Dublin and the Cavan classic. I still have the granddam, she jumped to 1.40. The Kavanagh’s bought MMS Alexa as a foal at the breeder’s classic. I think it’s a great series, its good for putting mileage on horses, the shows are in good locations, good arenas and lots of good jumping. It’s a great start for a horse if you have one good enough. I’m a very proud breeder.”
The series concluded with the 7-Year-Old final in the afternoon. It was Gemma Phelan’s day winning the league on Rory Costigan’s GRC Mercedes (ISH), and placing 2nd on the day with mare, also placing 4th and 8th with My Private Dancer (ISH) and GRC Casper (ISH) respectively. She narrowly missed the win after Mikey Pender’s round with HHS Venice (ISH), a speedy jump off with only 5 double clears out of 24 competitors. European Silver medallist Max Foley, again, took the Leading Young Rider title in league, also placing 3rd in the class with HHS Arezzo (ISH).
Winning breeder and owner Rory Costigan was delighted with his win “It was great to win with another Luidam, I’m a big fan of him as a sire. I bred from Mercedes’ great granddam, and I’m breeding from her full sister at the moment, I have a nice 4 year old out of her. It’s a brilliant series and I hope to do it again with some of the youngsters coming through and be as successful as this year. I want to thank Gemma, she is a brilliant rider and gets a great read of the horses.”
Congratulations to all riders, owners, breeders and grooms of all horses who competed in the DAFM Studbook Series this year.
Breeding:
Unicum-H (BWP) 2020 stallion by President (KWPN), out of Jewel Vita-H (BWP), by Cicero Z Van Paemal (BWP). Bred by Victor Hermans, Belgium.
Kilbrackan Stakatto (ISH) 2020 mare by Stakkato Gold (HANN), out of Chambery De La Pomme (IFCE), by Elvis Ter Putte (BWP). Bred by Donal Cadden, Co. Leitrim.
Boleybawn Alexa (ISH) 2020 mare by Grandorado TN (KWPN), out of Arina (KWPN), by Crown Z (ZANG). Bred by Boleybawn Horses, Co. Wicklow.
MMS Alexa (ISH) 2019 mare by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve (BWP), out of MMS Camila (ISH), by Camiro De Haar Z (ZANG). Bred by Mary McShane, Co. Monaghan.
Thera Van Heiste (BWP) 2019 mare by MJT Nevados S (PZHK), out of Ishtar Van De Molendreef (BWP), by Contact Van De Heffinck (KWPN). Bred by Patrick Gillis, Belgium.
Gailes Dream Girl (ISH) 2019 mare by Keamore Diamond Clover (ID), out of Feemore Starlight (ISH), by Yeats (TB). Bred by Robbie Burns, Co. Tipperary.
GRC Casper (ISH) 2018 gelding by Sandokan 290 (HANN), out of GRC Sunrise (ISH), by Luidam (KWPN). Bred by Rory Costigan, Co. Tipperary.
GRC Mercedes (ISH) 2018 mare by Luidam (KWPN), out of Loughnavatta Osprey (ISH), by Chacco Blue (MECKL). Bred by Rory Costigan, Co. Tipperary.
My Private Dancer (ISH) 2018 colt by Balou Du Rouet (OLD), out of Uskerty Diamond Lady (ISH), by Carrick Diamond Lad (ISH). Bred by Hilda Anthony, Co. Kilkenny.
HHS Venice (ISH) 2018 mare by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof (BWP), out of HHS Fairy Fort (ISH), by Heritage Fortunus (HANN). Bred by Bravo Hughes, Co. Kilkenny.
HHS Arezzo (ISH) 2018 colt by Luidam (KWPN), out of HHS Chantilly Lace (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Bred by Bravo Hughes, Co. Kilkenny.
The DAFM Studbook Series is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, under National Breeding Services.
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