22 May Robin Carey Claims Top Spot in TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix at Barnadown
Robin Carey made an impressive start to his National Grand Prix campaign by taking top honours in the Cooley Farm-sponsored Premier Performance National Grand Prix, held at Barnadown last Saturday as part of the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour.
Riding the talented mare Luicruz, the Kilkenny rider produced a flawless round, clocking a time of 39.41 seconds in the jump-off to secure the win and the lion’s share of the €4,000 prize fund. Carey, who was among the early contenders in the jump-off, set a strong pace from the outset. His smooth, efficient turns — particularly from the double combination to the penultimate oxer and then to the final vertical — gave him the edge.
Luicruz, a ten-year-old mare by Luidam out of the Puissance mare All Cruz, was bred by Sean Fahey and is owned by Carey himself. The mare was purchased at the Goresbridge Horse Sales and was initially produced by Adam Carey before Robin took over the ride when she was six.
The Grand Prix attracted a strong field of 68 combinations, with 18 progressing to the jump-off. Among them, Lt. Michaeli Byrne came closest to challenging Carey. Partnering the eight-year-old gelding Dunboyne, Byrne delivered a polished clear round in 42.09 seconds to claim second place. Dunboyne, bred by Stacey Babes, is by Elvis Ter Putte out of the Sibon W mare Wrenwood Bambilino.
The competitive turnout and high-calibre performances set an exciting tone for the rest of the season.