No joy for Irish in Winter Equestrian Festival
Two errors ended the World Cup challenge of Tipperary’s Kevin Babington and Shorapur, while Cork’s Shane Sweetnam (Eregast van’t Kiezelhof) and Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney (Carrabis Z) both retired after racking up 12 faults.
France’s Marie Hecart had a generous two seconds to spare in victory with Myself de Breve after quarter of the 40-strong field made the jump-off. Britain’s Ben Maher (Diva II) proved next best when producing the only other clear round.
On Friday, Offaly rider Darragh Kenny grabbed the top two places in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45mtr speed class. Fifty-one lined up in the single-round competition, and Kenny took the lead with the grey Irish Sport Horse Gatsby, but it wasn’t long before he trumped that with Picolo. Jessica Springsteen put in a determined effort on Davendy S to place third ahead of Co Down’s Conor Swail on Grand Cru vd Jijf Eiken.
Kenny was effuse in his praise of his mounts.
“I just said to somebody that for these classes with those two horses, it is difficult not to be in the top six. They are two incredible horses. They are so careful, they are really fast, and you can do whatever you want with them,” said Kenny, who just turned 27.
Picolo, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding has form, giving Kenny an impressive eight international victories last year. The horse had a four-month break and started back last week with a couple of 1.40mtr classes.
“Honestly, this horse is just amazing. Every time I ride him he is unbelievable. I have never, ever had a horse like this,” Kenny declared. “He just wants to win so much, and he tries so hard. He is so competitive, and he is just an incredible horse.”
Gatsby, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion by Simba out of the Cruise On-sired dam Daisy Cruise, and bred by Dr Cormac McKay, Co Tyrone, normally competes with amateur rider Allison Toffolon.
“Ali usually shows him, and she is coming in two weeks. I thought I’d show him this week just to give him a round, and it is just easy,” Kenny said.
Entering week-five of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival, Kenny said the plan is to test Picolo in bigger classes.
“I am just starting to build him up. This is his second week back showing. He will probably jump the 1.50mtr this week. My goal is to jump him on the nations cup team here in week eight.”
Swail, meanwhile, continues to make his mark in The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour, blowing away the opposition in the 1.40mtr grand prix with Ariana.
The 42-year-old crossed the finish line over two seconds ahead of Alexander Zetterman and Avon, with Galway’s Andrew Bourns and Tzargazer in third place.
“Ariana is about 14 years old, and this is her first show since Toronto [in November]. She was my top horse over the winter, and she won some top classes there. She jumped great today, as she always does.”
At Oliva, near Valencia, in Spain, Swiss-based Kildare native Niall Talbot won a grand prix and placed second in another. The latter came with Nicos de la Cense in the two-star class, with the former, a one-star contest, won on Kobold van Schlosslihof.
Yesterday’s grand prix at the four-star show in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, saw Billy Twomey reach the jump-off with Diaghilev, but it proved unlucky 13th for the Corkman after he posted eight faults. Denis Lynch failed to progress from round one when putting up eight faults on Querida 75. On Saturday, Lynch rode Quote Zavaan to third place in a six-bar class.
At the three-star show in Villach Treffen, Austria, Alex Duffy finished third in the youngster tour final with Dancing Queen Z, having the previous day scored a win in a two-phase contest on the seven-year-old mare.
In Dubai, Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes rode Heritage HHS Fortuna to victory in the Longines Speed Stakes.
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