O’Connor wins it in cruise control

“I was only in second gear,” joked Cian O’Connor yesterday after he got Ireland off to a winning start at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, before Bertram Allen, made it two-in-a-row for the home side in the second international class.

Olympic bronze medallist O’Connor and Unique beat 75 rivals in the one-round Bewley’s Hotels Speed Stakes and, while accustomed to winning, doing so at Dublin is always special for the 33-year-old.

“The spectators, exhibitors and superb atmosphere is what makes it so special and to win the opening competition is brilliant,” said O’Connor.

“Unique has been consistent all year and won a class at nearly ever show, but I didn’t go all out today, in order to leave some energy for the rest of the week, as I plan to jump him in the big class tomorrow and Saturday.”

O’Connor and the aptly-named 12-year-old gelding were alone in breaking the 57-second barrier, their time of 56.05secs putting them well ahead of Nottingham’s Louise Saywell, who despite flying on Quantas, landed home over a second slower. Irish riders filled the next five places, led by Capt Michael Kelly on Mo Chroí and Galway’s Michael Duffy with Dermot Forde’s mare Westland Ruby.

O’Connor is part of the five-man squad bidding for one of the four places on Ireland’s team for tomorrow’s nations cup.

Also hoping to convince manager Robert Splaine they can repeat last year’s win is Cameron Hanley (Antello Z), Conor Swail (Lansdowne), former world champion Dermott Lennon (Loughview Lou Lou) and Shane Breen (Balloon).

O’Connor is in the enviable position of having two horses in the running: The Olympic star Blue Loyd — which has been loaned to him by his new owner Canadian Nikki Walker — and the hugely-talented Cooper.

“Blue Loyd went very well today. I’m delighted with him and I’ll leave it up to Robert to decide. The horse is a good asset to any team — he was on the winning team last year — and hopefully we will do a good job if we get selected.

“Cooper is also very good... I would be happy to compete either horse.”

Bertram Allen turned 18 last week, but is showing no sign of inexperience at this level, dominating his more senior rivals in yesterday’s Irish Sports Council Classic.

The German-based Wexford man won European gold as a pony rider and collected a European junior silver medal last month. Yesterday he partnered Billy Twomey’s stallion Romanov to leave speed-merchant Frenchman Roger Yves Bost (Qoud’Coeur de La Loge) in his wake, with Louise Saywell again figuring, this time in third place on Hello Winner.

Meanwhile, Ireland manager Splaine was upbeat yesterday, despite getting a fright when the mini-bar fridge in his Burlington Hotel room exploded, forcing its evacuation.

“I ordered a wake-up call, but that is not what I expected,” said Splaine. “My son David and I nearly jumped out of the window.

“I was not clear as to what had happened. There was nothing apparent and it did not occur to me it was the fridge in the cupboard.”