Winning start to Horse Of The Year Show for Commandant Geoff Curran

Irish army rider Commandant Geoff Curran produced a dominant display to win The Dick Turpin Stakes, as international competition began at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham.

Puissance champion at HOYS in 2022 and 2023, and bidding for a hat-trick this year, he added another title to his collection by landing the one-round speed class aboard DHF Alliance (ISH), who was bred by Paul Douglas in Co Tyrone.

Their time of 56.86 seconds proved more than two-and-a-half seconds quicker than runner-up Paul Barker (GBR) with Strides Maureen, while William Whitaker (GBR) )and Active Spirit finished third.

“She won it very well,” Geoff said. “She is a very fast mare naturally, and if I do my job and keep it smooth, she is faster than most.

“I have every confidence in her. That’s the way she likes to go, and normally when I interfere with the way she likes to go she doesn’t like it, so I leave her go at her own pace.

“She is relatively green in terms of indoor competitions, so I am really chuffed with that. It was a good atmosphere – quite an experience for her – and she handled it really well.”

Breeding:
DHF Alliance (ISH) 2015, Mare by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Rosie Bee (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann).
Bred by Paul Douglas, Co. Tyrone. Owned by Jessica Stallard & Minister for Defence. Ridden by Commdt. Geoff Curran (IRL).