Having been crowned TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League Champion the previous day, Greg Broderick made sure of a memorable weekend when also claiming the Richest Young Horse Class in Europe by winning the Irish Breeders Classic with Araghbeg Clover.
Owned by Broderick and Declan Orpen, Araghbeg Clover proved the best of the 5 & 6 Year Old division when winning an extremely competitive competition with arguably the best of the Young Horse section Ireland has to offer.
Peter Moloney set a strong standard when first to go with Bonmahon Master Blue but what followed was nothing short of a procession as both Broderick and Clem McMahon somehow managed to shave almost eight seconds off the leaders time.
McMahon was next to take on the course with his RDS Champion, TKS Timeline and the pair went straight to the lead with a blistering round in 40.73. This time looked set to be exceptionally difficult to beat as McMahon had apparently taken every risk possible to stop the clock in such a time.
Broderick however, had other plans and although over the first few fences on the shortened course, the Tipperary rider appeared to be just on target with McMahon's time. After jumping out of the double (third last), Broderick took a much tighter line back to the new fence on the course (fence 14) and galloped to the last to break the beam at 40.38 and go to the front.
Francis Connors was the last to go in the 5 Year Old section with Newmarket Clare Lady and was visually slower over than Broderick and crossed the line in 45.76. Connors was clear however, and this proved to be very valuable.
It was then left to the 6 Year Old division and Nicholas Butler and Goodwins Quality appeared to be almost up on the clock before incurring four faults at the double. He went on to finish with another fence on the floor in a time of 41.60.
Declan Egan and Francis Connors were the only two riders that could deny a win for Broderick however, both had a fence on the floor each to give Greg Broderick and the Irish Bred Araghbeg Clover a big win before heading off to represent the Irish Sporthorse Studbook at Lanaken in two weeks time.
IRISH BREEDERS CLASSIC 2013
€45,000 Prize Fund
1st Greg Broderick/Araghbeg Clover 0/0 40.38
2nd Clem McMahon/TKS Timeline 0/0 40.73
3rd Francis Connors/Newmarket Clare Lady 0/0 45.76
4th Peter Moloney/Bonmahon Master Blue 0/0 48.11
5th Francis Connors/Lates Du Carel 0/4
6th Declan Egan/RRC Roulette 0/4 50.65
7th Nicholas Butler/Goodwins Quality 0/8
7 in Jump Off