And then, at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials UK (May 1-5), the Irish Sport Horse Vanir Kamira (ISH) and Piggy French celebrated their win, followed by five other Irish Sport Horses with incredible performances in all three phases taking all of the top six places.

The Irish Sport Horse Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class (ISH) was bred in Co. Wicklow by John Hagan. the bay gelding being by the late Belgian Warmblood stallion Ramiro B, out of The Swallow (ISH) by Master Imp (TB). Cooley Master Class (ISH) started his competition career as a four-year-old showjumping with Cathal McMunn and was subsequently produced as a five-year-old by Steven Smith, he was then sourced by Richard Sheane from Cooley Farm. The Irish Sport Horse studbook congratulates John Hagan and all those who produced him to these historic wins.

At Kentucky, with one pole separating the top three riders on the final day of the event, Tim Price (NZL) with Xavier Faer lying in third place had a superb clear round, as did Boyd Martin (USA) with Tsetserleg which putting all the pressure on Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class. However, the duo maintained their skill and composure to deliver a faultless round which Boyd Martin the opportunity of a home victory. This win for Cooley Master Class and Townend made history, being the first to win a back-to-back Land Rover Kentucky three-day event title, and the first ever CCI5* title to be won at the event.

Speaking after the second win in a row with Cooley Masterclass, Townend said; “I am so proud, I can’t say what this means. It’s a huge team effort, it hasn’t been an easy journey but we always believed in him and the horse is pure class – it was just my job to press the buttons at the right time and he delivered again.” Meanwhile, a delighted Richard Sheane from Cooley Farm added; “He is a horse I always believed in and we were delighted when he went to Oliver Townend where we knew he would be produced to show his true colours. I think it’s important to reflect on his breeding as he is out of a very high blood percentage dam in The Swallow (88%), and by the very successful continental eventing sire Ramiro B. I think if we can breed from high Thoroughbred percentage Irish mares in this way we will continue producing these successful top-class quality horses. It was wonderful that he won the first ever FEI five-star event in such style.”..To read the complete article you need to be a subscriberCLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BREEDING NEWS