By Jean Llewellyn / press release
Photography: FEI/PSV
The world’s most promising young eventing horses once again gathered at Le Lion d’Angers in France for the 40th anniversary of the FEI-WBFSH World Breeding Championship for Young Horses, hosted at the Mondial du Lion.
Among a field of exceptional talent, it was Irish-bred Brookfield Danny de Muze (I’m Special de Muze [BWP] - Gortglass Sparrow [ISH] x Ashfield Bobby Sparrow [Conn]) and British athlete Tom McEwen who captured the seven-year-old title. Although Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier has been one of the events most loyal riders, with nearly 20 appearances since 2007, this was her first ever victory at the Mondial du Lion riding Tara van het Leliehof who triumphed in the six-year-old championship.
Irish-bred Brookfield Danny de Muze
Brookfield Danny de Muze, expertly piloted by McEwen, produced a faultless double clear to secure victory on a score of 29.6. “I have had some really good results here and I’m delighted for the owners, Chloe and John Perry and Alison Swinburn,” said McEwen. “I am really pleased for the horse who has been going really well all year. I haven’t run him much because the ground has been so hard in the UK. I felt we made a few mistakes on Thursday in the dressage, but he was brilliant yesterday and jumped foot-perfect today. It’s really nice for the owners, who are unbelievably good at coming second and third.”
Speaking about his championship mount, sired by I’m Special de Muze, McEwen added: “He’s a very modern-day sport horse. He’s got a great gallop and, as you saw today, a fantastic jump, so for me, he’s the full package. The course today was very open and then went a bit twisty, and I could easily catch up time later on just because he’s so quick to turn around.”
He also reflected on the broader significance of the event: “The reason you come here is to showcase the young horses, and as Le Lion shows, it’s not just the winners that follow the path. Take Lordships Graffalo, who finished eighth here, you can see how phenomenal he’s become. For me, yes, obviously we are here to compete and win, but at the same time it’s about producing these lovely horses in an incredible spectacle, with plenty of people, and seeing how they first learn to deal with atmosphere. The Mondial du Lion Crédit Mutuel offers the perfect conditions to shape the best horses for the future.”
McEwen’s clear round secured the title ahead of Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who came agonisingly close to claiming a rare double victory. Competing with Helios, she dropped a rail at oxer number eight, settling for second place.
Interestingly, Brookfield Danny de Muze’s dam is by the legendary Connemara pony stallion, Ashfield Bobby Sparrow who won showjumping gold in the Belgian 1m60 Grand Prix at La Hulpe during the 1980 European Championship with Irishman Edward Doyle. At that time it was reportedly the most impressive demonstration of Connemara pony talent the world had ever seen.
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