Liam O’Meara continued to dominate in the Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix League when triumphing at Cork Summer Show with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight.
O’Meara took a decisive victory when coming home almost four seconds clear of his nearest rivals in an eight-horse decider, setting an unbeatable standard of a double clear round in a time of 40.84 seconds.
Saturday’s €4,000 class was O’Meara’s sixth victory to date in the league having claimed an equal number of wins aboard Mr. Coolcaum and Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight. With eight legs remaining O’Meara sits comfortably on top of the leader board on 79 points with a wide gap between him and second placed Francis Connors (26 points).
By Jacomar, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight is out of an Errigal Flight dam and has been a consistent performer for O’Meara throughout his career. This season alone the nine-year-old gelding has placed in six legs of the National Grand Prix league, including the aforementioned wins as well as winning two rounds of the Spring Tour earlier in the year.
Gerard O’Neill secured the runner-up spot on the day when stopping the clock at 44.76. O’Neill was paired with Billy Anchor. A new ride to O’Neill this season, the eight-year-old Billy Mexico-sired gelding was formerly campaigned by Edward Doyle and has already shown good form in the national league under O’Neill when double clear in the leg at Thomastown.
Young rider Matt Garrigan secured his place in the top three when negotiating the shortened and raised jump-off course in 47.98 with MHS La Scala. Garrigan is another rider that has already featured in the league this season with a top six finish in the opening round at Louth County.
Paul Beecher provided the only other double clear on the day with Cruising Star breaking the beams in 49.54. By Cruising’s Mickey Finn, the nine-year-old mare last season impressed when making the grade for the seven and eight-year-old international final at the Dublin Horse Show.
Greg Broderick secured fifth place on the day as the fastest four faulter with Cartouche V Overis Z across the line in 45.81 while Francis Connors completed the top six with Newmarket Clare also carrying four faults and logging a more sedate time of 52.15.
The league remains in the southern end of the country for another week with Bannow and Rathangan as the next round on the 13th July.
Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix League Cork Summer Show 8th July 2017 Result
- Liam O'Meara Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight 0/0 40.84
- Gerard O'Neill Billy Anchor 0/0 44.76
- Matt Garrigan MHS La Scala 0/0 47.98
- Paul Beecher Cruising Star 0/0 49.54
- Greg Broderick Cartouche V Overis Z 0/4 45.81
- Francis Connors Newmarket Clare Lady 0/4 52.15