Nov. 25 marked MHS Going Global’s last day at Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables in Thurles, Ireland. Greek heiress and international show jumper Athina Onassis has purchased the 10-year-old Irish superstar.

“It’s been an unbelievable journey for us right from novice classes in Ireland to making dreams come true with Olympic Games and Nations Cup wins,” posted Broderick on his Facebook page.

Broderick, 31, has had “Junior” in his barn since the gelding was 5 and has brought him up the levels, culminating in representing Ireland as an individual at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this past summer.

The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Quidam Junior I—Gowran Lady, Cavalier Royale) was bred by the late Ita Brennan at Mill House Stud in County Kilkenny. He showed promise from his earliest days, and Broderick asked clients Lee and Paul Kruger of Caledonia Stables in Leduc, Alberta, to buy him, so the young talent could remain in his stable.

With Broderick, Junior competed in the FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses (Belgium) as a 6- and 7-year-old. In 2015, he helped Ireland take the Aga Khan Nations Cup in Dublin by jumping double clear and also competed for his country at the European Championships (Germany). Junior would repeat that double-clear feat in Dublin in 2016, helping Ireland finish second. In total, Junior jumped on 10 international teams with Broderick including two Longines FEI Nations Cup Finals (Spain).

Onassis tried Junior in Ireland in early November with top horse dealer Jan Tops and his wife Edwina Tops-Alexander. Onassis has represented Greece at the 2013 European Championships (Denmark) and the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (France) and is a frequent competitor on the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Lee told The Irish Field that it was an emotional loss but the right thing to do intellectually. “There was a very strong commitment to keep him until after the Olympics, but there comes a stage when you just have to take a realistic look at it,” she said. 

“He has given my family, friends, owners and the Irish horse world something to be very proud of,” said Broderick. “Thank you to everyone who has been supportive of us along the way. He was part of the family here at Ballypatrick and like a best friend to me. He will be hugely missed, but it was a logical decision to sell him in the height of his career.

“I’d like to wish his new owner Athina Onassis all the luck with him and a big thank you to Lee Kruger for the opportunity to ride this great horse,” he concluded.