CLARKE CLAIMS THE HONOURS AT COILOG

Mervyn Clarke proved on form with Santee in Monday’s Coilóg Equestrian Premier Series Grand Prix. With a show stopping performance against the clock the pair claimed the victory in the €12,000 feature class in a thrilling thirteen horse decider.

Clarke was delighted with the result in what turned into a very competitive jump off saying “It was a very fast class, each one getting faster. I think what helped me was Santee has such a big stride, I made up ground that way” On his brave approach to the final vertical the Cavan based rider commented “I knew I could gallop him to the last it suits him better than turning back, he likes running down to a fence.” Clarke added “I’m glad he jumped it!”

Clarke and Santee are no strangers to the winner’s enclosure having secured last year’s Premier leg at Balmoral but unfortunately shortly afterwards the ten year old Lux Z gelding sustained an injury which saw him laid off for the rest of the season. Now back on form Clarke is aiming Santee at the rest of the Premier Series while next week the pair can be seen in Balmoral.

A strong startlist saw course designer Tom Holden build accordingly but excellent ground conditions and a very high standard of competitor guaranteed that the clear rounds came consistently. However the track continued to require concentration with over half the field leaving the arena with faults to add.

Out of luck was Elaine O’Neill making her Premier debut with the nine year old daughter of Errigal Flight, Ballycoolan Flight. The pair put in a foot perfect round marred only by an early vertical while Padraig Judge was put out of the running with Hello Spider when taking a brick off the wall at the second obstacle.

The combination too played its part in narrowing down the field with Trevor Breen (Womack) and 2008 Ballina Premier Series victors Ger O’Neill and I Caesar leaving the middle obstacle minus its top rail.

Mervyn Clarke set the tone early on as second in the ring he supplied the first fault free round aboard The Big Boy. The impressive seven year old Big Sink Hope gelding has been produced by Clarke since a five year old and is proving to be a useful performer having made his Premier debut just a week previously at Louth County. Unfortunately they failed to feature in the jump off when a tally of eight in a time of 45.84 left them out of the line up.

However Clarke was pleased with the Big Boy’s performance “I’m over the moon with him, he is only seven and has very little done. I’ve been bringing him on slowly as he is so big and it’s an education for him more than anything. I think next year he’ll be a really good horse it’s still going to take some time.”

Reigning National Champions Trevor Breen and Always Cullohill set the time to beat with a solid performance that saw them clock 39.24.  Olive Clarke followed his lead aboard the Cruising sired Starboard leaving all the fences standing albeit in a slower time of 39.92.  Francis Connors put in a smooth round on Heracross crossing the line in 39.63 which proved good enough for eventual eight place.

Alex Duffy upped the pace with Tampa and some tight turns saw the pair set a new standard with nearly three seconds in hand when they broke the beams in 36.64.

The nine year old German bred entire Tampa has proven to be a consistent member of Duffy’s team and has notched up some impressive results in his time abroad.

 

Brian Duff was first to take on the new time to beat with Colette B but faulted on an early vertical. The same obstacle denied Conor Swail and Uretto a top six placing but a time of 35.04 saw them take the last of the points in tenth. Lucy Buchanan looked set to challenge with Cavalier Andy and the pair clocked a time of 35.85 but  the second part of the double came down to leave them out of the running.

 

Richie Moloney put in a good effort with the Swedish warmblood Highlander and a brave gallop to the last saw him secure sixth place when leaving all the poles in their cups in a time of 37.16. Eddie Moloney captured the lead with Chatsworth Dan when coming home in 36.40 but didn’t hold it for long when Francis Connors and Merlins Magic broke the beams with fractions to spare in 36.22.

Connors lead was short-lived when Dermot Lennon upped the ante to break the 35 second mark with Hallmark Elite. Lennon has campaigned the nine year old Lord Byron Z sired gelding since a seven year old and last year the pair featured consistently at Grand Prix level as well as taking the honours in the Eglinton Irish Masters.

Mervyn Clarke was the only thing between Lennon and victory and the Cavan based rider looked determined from the off. Starting with plenty of pace Clarke kept his turns tight while a bold gallop to the last tall vertical saw the big striding Santee come home with time to spare when the clock showed 34.23.

The ten points gained by Clarke see him sharing second place with Cian O’Connor on the leader board while Francis Connors third place finish sees him head the bill with one point in hand at this early stage.

 

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