Laidlaw Cup: At the age of just 18, John Hayes yesterday took Dublin's supreme young horse accolade with a youngster that he chose instead of a motorbike two years ago.
Hayes, from Kilrush, Co Clare, showed maturity beyond his years when he was offered the choice of two different types of horsepower, but he plumped for a four-legged two-week-old foal over the two-wheel option, rejecting the traditional teenage dream.
But that choice paid dividends in the Ballsbridge show rings yesterday morning when Playboy, now a cocky two-year-old, lifted the prestigious Laidlaw Cup for his youthful owner as champion young horse of the show.
His father, Mr Jim Hayes, who was shaking endless outstretched congratulatory hands and even kissing complete strangers in his delight at the victory, said afterwards that Playboy was the first horse that John had owned.
The chestnut had won on his only two previous outings, claiming the championships at both Bridgetown and Corofin.
Hayes snr, who produced the top show hunter, Sheer Delight, which dominated the Wembley hunter championship for several years, found Playboy for his son at breeder Ms Ann Leamy's in Newmarket-on- Fergus.
By Big Sink Hope out of a Carnival Night mare, Playboy had little difficulty in claiming his age championship on Thursday and went all the way yesterday to hold off the challenge from the yearling champion, Mr Declan Fahey's Cheeky Imp.
Fahey, from west Cork, bought the Master Imp youngster as a foal from breeder, Mr Declan Daly, his near-neighbour in Clonakilty.
The gelding has won on each of his six outings, including winning the championship at Bandon and the supreme award at Dunmanway.
But horses are only a hobby for the Clonakilty builder, who has only shown in Dublin once before, when finishing third with a thoroughbred two-year-old at the Horse Show two years ago.
He plans to keep Cheeky Imp for another year, hoping to "come back for the big one next year".
Overlooked for the supreme, but victor in virtually everything else, Hurst Show Horses' Tattygare My Fair Lady claimed the Pembroke Cup for the best exhibitor-bred entry, having already won the three-year-old championship and the overall filly title.
Shirley Hurst, who was swathed in championship rosettes by the end of the morning, plans to bring the grey back next year under saddle and hopes to ride her in the hunter classes.
Despite missing out on the supreme, the Co Fermanagh Hurst family had a good show as their three-year-old filly, Very Smart, which is co-owned by Shirley Hurst's mother, Harriet Cox, took the thoroughbred championship and was pulled in as reserve behind stable companion My Fair Lady in the filly decider.