Greg Broderick cemented his position at the top of the leader board in the TRM/Horseware New Heights Champions Series when claiming the honours with Chinook II in the sixth round.
Broderick secured the win with almost half a second in hand in a nine-horse jump-off when recording a faultless round in a time of 40.06 seconds.
Sunday’s victory in the €10,000 feature class at Cork Summer Show was the Co. Tipperary rider’s third outright win in the Series having triumphed at the opening round in Louth County as well as winning in Ballinasloe.
Owned by Molly Tracy, the Verdi-sired Chinook II is a new mount to Broderick this season. Formerly campaigned by Anthony Condon up to 1.60m level, Broderick has quickly gotten to grips with the 10-year-old gelding. One of Broderick’s mounts to feature consistently in the New Heights Champions Series, Chinook II has already claimed a win in Ballinsloe and a runner-up finish at Omagh.
Clem McMahon proved to be Broderick’s nearest rival when logging a time of 40.56 aboard the eight-year-old Pacino-sired Hilton CMS Paparazzi. McMahon has also been on form in the Series, triumphant at Mullingar with Aldaluck while Hilton CMS Paparazzi was the runner-up at Galway County and also featured in the line-up at Omagh.
Captain Geoff Curran, the 2016 Premier Series Champion, made his first appearance this season in the New Heights Champions Series with a third place finish. Riding the 13-year-old VDL Arkansas-sired Ringwood Glen, Curran stopped the clock at a time of 42.14.
Reigning National Champion Francis Connors continued to accumulate points as the only other double clear on the day. Partnering the Ard VDL Douglas-sired Erne Ladygoldilocks, Connors completed in 44.86 which would prove good enough for the green rosette.
Vincent Byrne, fresh off his victory at Omagh, doubled his chances for success when making it through to the clocked round with two mounts.
Byrne recorded the fastest time of the day when making it across the line on Mr. Rockefeller in 39.43, unfortunately a single error meant he had to settle for fifth place on this occasion while Hannibal V Overis Z also picked up four faults albeit in a slower time of 43.90.
Completing the top six with a total of four faults in a time of 42.95 was Alan O’Regan with the eight-year-old Guidam-sired Freedam.
Balmoral Show plays host to the next round of the New Heights Champions Series taking place on the 18th July.
TRM/Horseware New Heights Championship Series Cork Summer Show 9th July 2017 Result
- Greg Broderick Chinook II 0/0 40.06
- Clem McMahon Hilton CMS Paparazzi 0/0 40.56
- Captain Geoff Curran Ringwood Glen 0/0 42.14
- Francis Connors ERNE Ladygoldilocks 0/0 44.86
- Vincent Byrne Mr. Rockefeller 0/4 39.43
- Alan O'Regan Freedam 0/4 42.95
- Gemma Phelan Loughnavatta Indigo 0/4 43.00
- Vincent Byrne Hannibal V Overis Z 0/4 43.90
- Francis Connors Centolina RB 0/4 50.03
- Stacy Babes Camillo VDL 1/