O’Shea gets off the mark at the double

HAVING never won an international class at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, Paul O’Shea yesterday went and topped the leaderboard in two contests yesterday , writes John Tynan.

The 33-year-old from Kildimo, Co Limerick, ended his drought with victory in the Speed Derby and followed with a similar result in the Burlington Hotel Six Bar. Understandably, he was overjoyed.

“I’ve won at Dublin in the past, but not an international class, so to win two on one day is very special,” said the Skerries-based rider.”

Riding high in the domestic Premier Series — which he leads by 15 points with one round remaining — O’Shea had given a glimpse on Wednesday when fourth in the speed class with Daydream St Ghyvan Z.

He cut loose yesterday with the 11-year-old grey gelding, knocking four-tenths of a second off the time set by American Beezie Madden on Primo.

“Being near the end gave me an advantage and I saw Beezie’s round, which was a big help,” said O’Shea.

In the six bar competition, he was the only rider to attempt the fourth jump-off round, even if he did four-fault with Camiro De Haar Z.

He was not ruling out more victories: “Camiro has a good chance in the Puissance and my other horses, Daydream and Cascaletto, are also jumping well, so you never know.”

Corkman Billy Twomey was in the vanguard for Ireland in the Frank Knight Power and Speed, coming home third on the stallion Je t’Aime Flamenco. Spain was given a filip ahead of today’s nations cup, with victory for Jesus Garmendia Exhevarria and Lord Du Mont Milon.