Clarke Johnstone's Balmoral Sensation leads the rankings but is not registered with a studbook
The final 2016 FEI/WBFSH rankings for eventing horses and studbooks have been announced with the Irish Sport Horse Studbook (ISH) taking the honours and Phillip Dutton’s Olympic mount Mighty Nice providing his breeder William Kells with the top breeder award.
The rankings for the 2016 season take account of FEI competitions from 1st October 2015 to 30th September 2016 and, although Mighty Nice is the best eventing horse registered with a studbook under WBFSH, he is actually the second best eventing horse on points (359 ranking points) while the top horse, but not registered with a studbook, is Clarke Johnstone’s Balmoral Sensation (427 points).
The 12 year old grey gelding Balmoral Sensation, by Senator VDL out of Aberzanne (by Aberlou), was bred by David Goodin in New Zealand and started his eventing career with Donna Smith, winning several 2* titles before being bought by the Johnstone family. Clarke and ‘Ritchie’started their international competition career together with a win in the CIC3* at Hastings in 2015 and had continued success throughout 2015 and 2016, including a fifth place at the 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and sixth place at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
Katharine Van Tuyl's stunning Double J Sunshine
Three other Antipodean horses in the rankings but not registered with a studbook under WBFSH are Hazel Shannon’s Clifford, the recent winner of the CIC3* at Lynton Horse Trials, Goulburn in fifth place, Katharine Van Tuyl’s Puhinui and Taupo 3* winner Double J Sunshine and Shane Rose’s Virgil in ninth place
But back to the horse that took the honours - Mighty Nice, a 12 year old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ard Ohio out of Sarazen, was imported from Ireland by Bruce Duchossois and Phillip Dutton 2010. After Bruce’s death, a group of friends stepped in to ensure that Mighty Nice would remain with Phillip who competed the horse at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, winning an individual bronze medal.
Mighty Nice’s second place has contributed to the success of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook in eventing, which has taken the title for 21 of the last 23 years
Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice - Rio bronze medallists
The six highest-placed Irish Sport Horses in the 2016 WBFSH Eventing Rankings are:
2nd Mighty Nice (ISH) – 2004 gelding by Ard Ohio (KWPN) out of Sarazen (ISH).
Breeder: William Kells, Co. Cavan. Owner: HND Group. Rider: Phillip Dutton (USA)
Bronze individual medal at Rio Olympics.
4th – CCI4* Rolex Kentucky 2016
2nd – CCI3* Elkton MD 2015
7th – CCI4* Luhmuhlen 2014
17th Cooley Rorkes Drift (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Doon-A-Ree Lass (ISH), by Rachelle Comet (TB).
Breeder: William McCarrison, Co. Down. Owners: Fiona Elliott & Jonty Evans. Rider: Jonty Evans (IRL)
9th – Individual Rio Olympics 2016
3rd – CIC3* Tattersalls 2016
11th – CICO3* – NC Fontainbleu 2016
8th – CCIO3* – NC Boekelo and 1st with Team
18th Ringwood Sky Boy (ISH) – 2003 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Sky Lassie (ISH), by Sky Boy (TB).
Breeder: Myles Mahon, Co. Wexford. Owners: Mr Robert Taylor, Mrs Varenna Allen, Tim Price and Selwood.com. Rider: Tim Price (NZL)
4th – CCI4* Burghley 2016
4th – CCI4* Luhmuhlen 2016
5th – CIC3* Tattersalls 2016
2nd – CCI4* Burghley 2015
25th One Two Many (ISH) – 2002 gelding by Chacoa (HOLST) out of Cul Na Breathar (ISH), by Colin Diamond (ISH).
Breeder: John O’Brien, Co. Limerick. Owners: Ry Kemp & Janine Shewan. Rider: Nicola Wilson (GBR)
4th – CCI4* Pau 2016
1st – CIC3* Hartpury 2016
7th – CCI4* Badminton 2015
1st – CIC3* Burgham 2015
29th Fernhill Fugitive (ISH) – 2005 gelding by Lux Z (HANN) out of Barnadown Ramiro (ISH,) by Ramiro B (BWP).
Breeder: Maurice Cousins, Co. Wexford. Owners: Thomas Tierney & Ann Jones. Rider: Phillip Dutton (USA
13th – CCI4* Rolex Kentucky 2016
1st – CIC3* Tallahassee Florida 2016
1st – CCI3* Temecula CA 2015
9th – CCI4* Rolex Kentucky 2015
33rd ODT Ghareeb (ISH) – 2004 gelding by Ghareeb (TB) out of Celestial Rose (ISH), by Tulla Flight (ISH).
Breeder: Sean Grier, Kilkenny. Owners: Kathleen Wilkinson & Rachel Wood. Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR)
2nd – CCI3* Blair Castle 2016
3rd – CIC3* Burgham 2016
8th – CCI3*Saumur 2016
View the final 2016 FEI/WBFSH rankings for eventing horses here
View the final 2016 FEI/WBFSH Studbook rankings for eventing here
