Double clear sees Duffy share top spot in Belgium

Mayo show jumper Alex Duffy shared first place in the six-bar class at Mechelen, Belgium, at the weekend.

The Mayo rider four-faulted in the third jump-off with the 12-year-old stallion Quartel du Mazes, sharing the top with two rivals.

Duffy, who rides out of Cameron and Carl Hanley’s yard in Germany, produced a double clear on the relatively inexperienced eight-year-old gelding Living The Dream in a 1.50m jump-off class at the World Cup show.

Meanwhile, Cian O’Connor has sold ISHD Dual Star to American Laura Chapot.

O’Connor purchased the 11-year-old mare in the North over a year ago. The product of the breeding programme at Necarne, she carries the prefix ISHD for Irish Sports Horse Development.

One of Dual Star’s best placings came not long after she was purchased by O’Connor, the pairing finishing second in the 1.60m Ivy Stakes at London’s Olympia.

The Olympic bronze medallist said of the sale: “I am delighted that Dual Star is gone to Laura and I feel that it will be a very good partnership. She is a gifted rider and gets on well with all kinds of horses, in particular sensitive mares. Laura loves to win and horses really jump for her.”

Dual Star will join two other Irish Sport Horses at Chapot’s stables, Castellana, who won last year’s Cavan 6/7-year-old final with O’Connor, and the six-year-old mare Cast a Dream, winner of the National Balmoral class for 6/7-year-old horses with northerner Daniel Coyle. O’Connor and Chapot will both be in action at the upcoming 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Also on the move recently was Ballymore Eustace, the ride of former Army officer Shane Carey. The 10-year-old has gone to the Azevedo family in Belgium, having carried Limerick man Carey to a number of victories on the Continent.