Top Global Champions Tour rider buys Irish Sport Horse Ramiro Cruise

Francis Murray General July 23, 2014

Edwina Tops-Alexander, currently the highest ranked rider of the 2014 Global Champions Tour, has added the eight year-old Irish Sport Horse Ramiro Cruise to her stable.

Ramiro Cruise was bred by Patrick Connolly, County Galway, and began his competition career with Olivia and Shane Burns in County Sligo. The Ramiro B sired gelding was then produced in the UK by Dave and Sharon Quigley who went on to record a number of international wins and placings.

The proud breeder Patrick Connolly said “I’m delighted that Ramiro Cruise has gone to one of the worlds top international showjumpers. It is not only a boost for our own breeding programme, but for the entire Irish Sport Horse industry“.

Sharon Quigley & Ramiro Cruise (ISH)

Horse Sport Ireland CEO Damian McDonald  added “We look forward to following the horse’s  progress and we wish Edwina every success with the horse. Obviously we’d love too see such a promising horse with an Irish rider but the next best thing is too see the horse go to a really top rider on the world stage“.

After seeing Cruising compete during the Millstreet Derby twenty years ago Patrick bred his Glacier Mint sired broodmare Cummer Glory to him and his breeding endeavors began there. The success of the Connolly family’s breeding programme is growing at an impressive pace. Few young horse classes take place in Ireland at present without the ‘CSF’ prefixed horses making their presence felt. Patrick Connolly is currently producing a five year-old half sister to Ramiro Cruise, CSF Maximum Cruise, by KEC Maximum Joe, ridden by Lisa O’Dea. Another half brother, CSF Salut Flamenco by Je t’aime Flamenco, is with Kildare based Julieann Gaffney. Cummer Cruise’s 2013 filly foal by Flipper d’Elle has been retained for breeding and the mare is currently in foal to Voltaire.

CSF Mr Kroon, by Kroongraaf out of the Cavalier Royale mare Norrira,  was the four year-old winner at the 2013 Dublin Horse Show with Ger O’Neill and is currently well placed in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook five year old league with Declan Egan.

Ger O’Neill (IRL) & CSF Mr Kroon (ISH). Photo: www.geroneill.com

Additional CSF bred horses of note include WCE Cruco (Alex Duffy – IRL), WCE Falco (Lucinda Roche – IRL), CSF Elmo (Martin O’Dea – IRL), Wily Wonty (Kayleigh Watts – GBR), Olympic Cruz (Lieven Devos – BEL) and Sera View (Annika Gustafsson – SWE).

With a large performance focused broodmare herd and a thoughtful, well planned, stallion selection process we can expect to see many more future starts flying the CSF flag around the world. To find out more about Connolly’s stud farm visit their website www.connollystudfarm.com.