Irish owners and breeders enjoy huge success at Millstreet International Horse Trials

The 2025 Millstreet International Horse Trials saw Irish-bred horses once again dominate, filling the top two places in the feature Noel C. Duggan Engineering CCI4*-L along with several victories in other competitions at the Green Glens arena.

Ridden by Britain’s Gemma Stevens, Flash Cooley (ISH), a 13-year-old gelding bred in Kilkenny by Jim O’ Neil and owned by Pru Dawes, led from start to finish, to take victory in the CCI4*-L ahead of Brazilian runner-up Marcio Cavalho Jorge and Royal Encounter (ISH) who was bred in Co Monaghan by Peter Rice. Italy’s Giovanni Ugolotti (Duke of Champions) took third spot on the podium, while Aoife Clark was best of the Irish riders in fourth with Full Monty de Lacense.

It was a brilliant weekend overall for Britain’s Gemma Stevens, as she also took victory in the Goresbridge Horse Sales CCI3*-L with the John Connolly-bred Cooley Park Muze (ISH). Britain’s Caroline Harris finished second on Lester Ckv, while Robbie Kearns was best of the Irish in third with Sorella Blue.

“It’s such a relief because I’ve been second in a CCI4*-L four times,” said a delighted Gemma Stevens. “Two years ago we came second here at Millstreet with a fence down and it was a sore subject. This really puts it to bed, along with a disappointment at Badminton.

“Flash Cooley was off last year with an injury, but he has come back so well, especially on the flat. He is a super little horse.”

In addition to Cooley Park Muze, a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Pollux de Muze Z who only started eventing two years ago, Gemma has another thrilling prospect in the Chilli Morning son Chilli’s Jester (out of Mary King’s King’s Gem), ninth in the same class. “These horses are keeping me in the sport,” revealed Gemma, who also competes regularly in showjumping.

There was a popular home victory in the Donagh Hickey Motors CCI2*-L for Irishman Robbie Kearns riding Belline Thistle Bethelastime, a seven-year-old by Grafenstoltz out of a Kannan mare bought by owner Richard Ames from the breeder, John Brodie.

Robbie’s clear round put the pressure on overnight leader Giovanni Ugolotti (Magherard Candy), who was left with no margin for error and dropped to third with just one rail down. Australia’s Kevin McNab rose to second on Chanel Rf.

Robbie, who is stable jockey to Richard Ames at Belline in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, has produced the attractive grey mare since she was five. “We always thought she had so much talent,” he said. “She fell on the flat at Le Lion d’Angers last year, so this feels like setting the record straight.”

A delighted Richard Ames spoke to the Irish Horse Board after the win:

“We have had her since she was a foal. The most amusing thing about that horse is the commentators trying to work out her name. [Belline Thistle Bethelastime].

Richard explained, “It’s Thistle, as in Scottish Thistle, Be- the – last -time, as the guy who bred her was Scottish and it was the last one out of his mare and that’s where the name came from.

“We are delighted with her, and we had a good weekend. We were third also in the CCI3-L with Sorella Blue and fifth in the CCI3-S with Pisco Sour. I’m delighted for Robbie [Kearns] and all the staff. it’s a team effort including my wife Tanja does a huge amount of the organising.”

Meanwhile their was an impressive victory for Ireland’s Joseph Murphy riding Austin O’Callaghan and Amanda Torrens’s Barberstown Castle Rehy (ISH) in the Foran Equine CCI3*-S. They were in fourth place after the opening Dressage phase and stormed to victory after clear Cross Country and Show Jumping performances.

The other short-format sections saw victories for Alison Holden with Eamon Holden’s Lates Eddie in the Eventing Ireland CCI2*-S; and American rider Hallie Coon in the Coral Cove Championships for young horses on the Irish Sport Horse Boleybawn Olivia.

Pony rider Hugh Kelly, 16, impressed in the Connolly’s Red Mills CCIP2-L with a mature performance on Bronagh Kennedy’s seven-year-old mare Fairyhouse In A Pickle, having added nothing to his dressage score over the three days. Cross-country leader Kitty Cullen on Coppenagh Spring Sparrow finished second with one showjumping rail down.

Carla Williamson (16,) who won the Pony class at Millstreet last year, led throughout the Carr & Day & Martin CCI1*-Intro on her new ride this season, Ann Magee’s Karolita O, a 10-year-old mare by Firestone.

“It has been another great weekend of sport at Millstreet,” said event director and host Thomas Duggan. “We are thrilled that so many international competitors want to come here to educate their horses and enjoy the superb courses and footing here, and that it has been such a successful showcase for the Irish Sport Horse.”

BREEDING:
Flash Cooley (ISH)[was Castlefield Casper] -2012 gelding by CSF Mr Kroon [ISH] out of Castleford Ruby (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD). Breeder: Jim O’Neill (Kilkenny). Rider: Gemma Stevens (GBR)

Cooley Park Muze (ISH)[was TJM Reuben] – 2016 gelding by Pollux de Muze Z (ZANG) out of TJM L Arc In the Park (ISH) by L’Arc de Triomphe (OLD). Breeder: John Connolly. Rider: Gemma Stevens (GBR)

Royal Encounter (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Lancelot (KWPN) out of Cavalier Lassie (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Peter Rice (Monaghan). Rider: Marcio Carvalho Jorge (BRA)

Belline Thistle Bethelasttime (ISH). 2018 mare by Grafenstolz (TRAK) out of Karmyn (ISH), by Kannan (KWPN). Bred by Johnston Brodie, Co. Wexford, owned by Richard Ames and ridden by Robbie Kearns (IRL)

Barberstown Castle Rehy (ISH)[was Rehy Royal Diamond] – 2011 gelding by ARS Vivendi (HOLST) out of Pegasus Star (ISH)[TIH] by Diamond Lad (ID). Breeder: Geraldine Kelly. Rider: Joseph Murphy (IRL)