Coolmore support Kevin Babington fundraising efforts with Gleneagles nomination

Coolmore have thrown their support behind the fundraising campaign for Kevin Babington, the County Tipperary-born showjumper who suffered life-changing spinal injuries in a fall at The Hampton Classic event in the US last month, by donating a nomination to exciting young sire Gleneagles.

The current highest bid of €40,000 came from Ira Gumberg, a leading owner in the showjumping circuit. Gunberg is also a prominent figure in the thoroughbred racing world, with her family's Skara Glen Stables having bred champion three-year-old filly Rags To Riches and Belmont Stakes winner Jazil.

Other bidders have included Trevor Stewart, Anthony Rogers of Airlie Stud and William Kennedy. All bids must be entered by email to Mark Byrne at m.byrne@coolmore.ie.

Bidding will close at 5pm on Wednesday, September 18, with the highest bids to be published daily on the Coolmore website and via the stud's social media channels.

Originally from Carrick-On-Suir, Babington was a member of the Irish team who claimed the gold medal at the European Show Jumping Championships in 2001.

He was also a member of the Irish team which competed at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, when he finished in a share of fourth place in the individual competition with mount Carling King.

In recent years Babington has competed solely on the US circuit, and in July he recorded a unique treble at the Lake Placid Horse Show in New York when taking the top three places in the Grand Prix with Shorapur, Super Chilled and Mark Q.

On the day of his fall, August 30, Babington opened the doors to his Florida showjumping base to owners whose horses required shelter from the impending Hurricane Dorian. A GoFundMe page has also been set up in support of Babington, which has raised almost $90,000 already.

Gleneagles, the four-time Group 1-winning son of Galileo, has made a bright start to his stud career, with his debut two-year-olds including the Group 2 July Stakes scorer Royal Lytham and Windsor Castle Stakes winner Southern Hills.

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