An unlikely Italian job in Dublin

IT WAS a case of out but not down for Italy yesterday, when the already-relegated Mediterraneans won the €200,000 nations cup at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Having sealed their demotion from the elite Meydan Series with a raft of poor performances, there was good justification to believe that the 500/1 odds offered by Cashman’s bookmakers were not overly generous.

However, when the competition’s second-last rider Piergiorgio Bucci steered Kanebo over the last fence clear, it was revealed that miracles do happen as the crowd erupted in delight that an underdog had prevailed.

It was a competition with many layers, as the French battled successfully to hold off the US in a close battle for the Meydan title, while Britain were involved in a desperate fight also to avoid joining the Italians in the second tier. Finishing equal second on the day with Switzerland saw them join Belgium on the league table on 22 points. But hours after the competition and following frantic delving into the rules by officials, there was still no decision as to who was out for 2010.

Initially, it was said by the International Equestrian Federation that Belgium was going down, then it was announced that, based on the least worst results throughout the season, the continentals would retain their Meydan status and that Britain were the losers. Ultimately, it emerged that no decision could be made, with FEI director of show jumping Captain John Roche saying: “There is uncertainty in the rules in relation to the relegation ninth place, which will be looked into next week by the FEI.”

Irish hopes of a second series win failed to materialise, the host team of Cameron Hanley (Southwind VDL), Cian O’Connor (Rancorrado), Billy Twomey (Je t’Aime Flamenco) and Denis Lynch (Lantinus) in eighth.

Italy’s resurgence could be put down to the appointment of Markus Fuchs as manager. The Swiss legend, however, dismissed the notion. “It was not all my work, today was our day. Italy has never had its best riders and horses together this season and, since I was appointed three weeks ago, I have been pushing for that to happen at Dublin,” said Fuchs, who as a rider won the grand prix in Dublin on Tinka’s Boy, but said being team manager was infinitely more stressful.

“I want to put in all my knowledge and efforts to make Italy a better team and I told the riders if we all pulled on the rope the same way, we would do well.”

French manager Elias Laurent also cited a team effort for winning the Meydan Series, his country having only gained promotion this year.

There was plenty of early evidence that some of the contestants were unaware of the form book, not least the Italians who, courtesy of clears from competition pathfinder Juan Carlos Garcia (Hamilton De Perhet), and Natale Chiaudani (Snai Seldana), four faults from Bucci (Kanebo) and nine from Giuseppe D’Onofrio (Landzeu) shared the lead at the half-way stage on four faults with US. Britain and Germany were joint second on eight faults.

Ireland were looking a little shaky and fighting to progress as one of the eight countries in round two, with Hanley and Southwind VDL returning with eight faults, which was matched by O’Connor, riding Rancorrado, and Twomey on Je t’Aime Flamenco. A clear round from anchorman Lynch and the impressive Lantinus gave the fans something to cheer about and ensured Ireland were still in the hunt on a team total of 16 going into the second round, which, under a new format, did not take place until over two hours later.

The restart saw little change, with Hanley putting up 12, O’Connor improving with a four, Twomey repeating his first round eight and Lynch also finishing with two on the ground to give a team total of 36.

Italy, for their part, displayed some cracks, with the first three riders augmenting their score by four apiece, before Bucci sealed the result for a 12-fault team total, four better than Switzerland and Britain. Twenty faults for France and the Americans for a share of fourth place was enough to give the former the Meydan title.

The Irish performance will undoubtedly give Ireland team manager Robert Splaine food for thought as he considers his team for the European Championships in Windsor, England, this month.

“Today’s result was obviously disappointing for me, but it was the end of the series and we did stay in the Meydan league for next year, and we did win one leg outright. For that I’d like to thank all the riders, owners and grooms. We were well organised and there was a great team spirit.”