Edited press release from the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses

That the Irish horses and riders always should be taken into account during the finals of the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses became clear once again during a particularly exciting showdown for the six-year-old horses in Lanaken this afternoon, as Ethen Ahearne and ABC Saving Grace managed to secure another title for Ireland. 

A total of 40 horse-and-rider combinations had managed to qualify for this final, and just like with the five-year-olds, the level was high. Of the 40 combinations, 14 jumped clear in the first round and qualified for the jump-off. Once again, the Irish proved unbeatable, as Ethen Ahearne and the Irish-bred mare ABC Saving Grace, a daughter of Kannan and Cruising, bred by Patrick Kehoe – and half-sister of the Grand Prix horses ABC Quantum Cruise (Quality) and ABC Private JET (Je t'Aime Flamenco) – claimed the gold medal. 

Ahearne and ABC Saving Grace entered in the ring halfway into the jump-off and secured the gold medal with a clear round in 36.74 seconds. “I got ABS Saving Grace in November when I started my own stable and brought her for the first time at the start in February or March. But so far she has only jumped at national level and last month in Dublin we were able to qualify for this World Championship. So, this was actually the first time we started on international level and it was also my first participation here," the happy winner laughed. 

The silver went to French rider Valentin Pacaud with the SF-bred mare Garance de Vains (Diamant de Semilly x Ogano Sitte), from breeder Christian Bihl. Pecaud and Garance de Vains entered the ring as the third last combination and managed to set a time of 37.13 seconds in their last round together. “After the World Championship I will change my job and Garance de Vains will therefore end up with another rider. So, it's fantastic that we can finish our last round in this way," Pacaud said. 

British rider Alex David Gill had two horses in the jump-off and eventually secured bronze with the KWPN-bred gelding Lacoste VDL (VDL Zirocco Blue x Indoctro) from VDL Stud's breeding. David Gill and Lacoste VDL were first out in the jump-off and rushed to the finish line in 37.83 seconds.

Fourth place went to Italian rider Giorgio Sacco with the BWP-bred stallion Qionno van 't Merelsnest (Kannan x Nabab de Rêve, breeder Walter Van Bunder – Stud Merelsnest) while the fifth place went to Belgium's Astrid Rooms with the BWP-bred mare Queen B van 't Paradijs (Elvis Ter Putte x Bamako de Muze, breeder Johan Rooms- Van Den Branden).