Classic draws top young equines with €50k pot
In addition, a foal auction which is part of the event, at Barnadown, Co Wexford, will be avidly watched as a barometer of current values.
The Classic is open to horses aged five and six, born in Ireland, and organiser Ronan Rothwell said: “Some of Ireland’s biggest breeders are represented, such as Mill House Stud owned by the Brennans in Gowran, Co Kilkenny, with an offspring of OBOS Quality, and Delmont Stud in Co Laois, with a son of Guidam.
“Billy Daly from Scarteen Stud, Newmarket, Co Cork, has a mare by his own Newmarket Jewel, out of a Cavalier dam, while Justin Burke, of Galway Bay Stud, has a son of Prince Des Veux, out of a Touchstone mare.
“The winners of the competitions for five- and six-year-olds at the Dublin Horse Show [TKS Timeline and Hawkswings] will both be in action, ridden by Clem McMahon.
“OBOS Quality and Lux Z each have three offspring in the competition, and one of these is Ben’s Lady Lux, which won the class last year when ridden by Harry Marshall. This year, Shannon MacKenzie, the owner’s daughter will ride it.”
The first of two qualifiers is on Friday, leaving 25 horses (or all double clears over the jumps) in Sunday’s final, with €1,000 for the breeder of the winner.
In the foal auction which follows the Classic final, there are 12 entries, all consigned by sponsors of the Classic. Rothwell says offspring from Pacino — who died suddenly this year — Flexible and Cavalier are among the better offerings.
A contest for four-year-old horses also takes place, with Deep Pockets a notable entry, the winner at last month’s Millstreet International Horse Show, ridden by Jim Derwin from Athlone.
