Pender and Trunkfield share Puissance, Curran scores in RDS Stakes

A packed RDS witnessed the Saturday drama. 

Joseph Trunkfield of Great Britain competing on Cruze celebrates being made joint winner alongside Michael Pender on Ireland. Pic:  Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Two huge showjumping stallions, one at 18 hands were the stars of the Defender Puissance Big Wall class in a packed-to-the-rafters main arena spectacular at the RDS on Saturday evening.

Ireland's Michael Pender and GB rider Joseph Trunkfield with their stallions Hearton du Bois Halleux and the grey supergiant Cruze battled it out to a fifth round at 2.20m having cleared the wall at 2.15m when Elliott Smith and Flamboyant III were eliminated.

Nine riders kicked off the class which started at 1.80m and graduated brick by brick to 2.15m as horses faulted. Still the stars Pender and Trunkfield stayed to the fifth round as the huge leggy honest stallions were fearless in their acceptance of such a huge obstacle, which depicted the magnitude of the talent and trust in their pilots. The spectators went wild as both Pender and Trunkfield went to a final jump-off and despite clearing the fence and each kicking out a tricky brick, the sheer brilliance of the horses and riders was appreciated by thousands as both riders shared the podium and nearly €11,000 each.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house as Pender paid tribute to Hearton owned by Paul Van den Bosch, winner of three Puissance events and the Hickstead Derby. "He means everything, he's an expert at it, I'm very lucky to have a horse like Hearton. He's not getting any younger at 17 so he will retire while he's healthy."

Joseph Trunkfield and the grey stallion Cruze met up again after selling the horse last October to Irish rider Gracie Johnson. "I asked her if I could borrow him back for Dublin, it was definitely worth the trip. This is an incredible show, I definitely want to come back. Cruze is an amazing horse."

The Defender Puissance is a powerful competition best suited to large horses with powerful abilities and built in accuracy on how to literally climb. It takes serious skill from riders and brave horses to face a single wall higher than their heads, but both riders had trusting stallions for the job.

Pender is no doubt a superstar in his own right, and literally always features in the prize list in most national and international competitions.

Comdt Geoff Curran, a puissance expert and winner of the big wall in Dublin last year had no luck this time with the stallion Bishops Quarter. He earlier claimed Saturday's main arena Royal Dublin Society speed Stakes with the Minister for Defence's Dhr Alliance which scorched around to win with an untouchable clear in 57.49 from 29 starters. The Irish Sporthorse, bred in Caledon County Tyrone by Paul Douglas was just a micro second faster than Derry's Olympian Daniel Coyle, clear in 57.93 on board the grey mare Lena owned by VDL stud in the Netherlands.

German ace Daniel Deusser gave chase with Bingo Ste Hermelle for third prize in 58.27 ahead of Frenchman Julien Gonin on Valou du Lys for fourth in 59.20. Deusser, an Olympic bronze medallist, nicknamed 'Double D' brings his Rio medal winning mare Killer Queen for the Rolex. He stated: "She is on form, very fresh and I am hoping to try and win. We will really try."

McLain Ward was in fighting form for the Dublin Stakes jump off class with a stellar line up of 44 horses, and only seven obtaining clear rounds. Marcus Fuchs, first to jump off with L L Upgrade, pinged around light as a feather setting the pace in 37.84 on a zero score. Michael Pender shaved nearly two seconds from his time taking the lead on 36.08 on HHS Cornetta, bred and owned in County Kilkenny by Marion Hughes Bravo.

Hughes kept a close eye on the competition from the warm up paddock screen and gave Pender relevant titbits of advice. Francis Derwin, the Athlone whizz kid with Flexi K, who was a first day international winner in the main arena, literally took the light from your eyes with his round. As commentator John Kyle said: "What another talent he is for Ireland." 

However success evaded Derwin as he tipped the oxer part of the double for four faults in 36.68.

Seasoned campaigner and fresh from success in the Aga Khan, US rider McLain Ward partnered his second horse Contagious, a multiple winner on the Florida circuit to stop the clock in 35.39, taking chances mid air on tight turns. As always Ward made it look easy and the new standard could not be bettered by Sweden's Petronella Andersson with the chestnut gelding Castres Van de Begunnakker Z.

Andersson kicked out the third oxer from home in 37.64 while Italian ace Giulia Martinego Marquet, representing the Italian airforce and Calle Delux were awesome. They put a strong challenge up to Ward galloping into third place with a fast clear in 36.81. Last year's Hickstead Derby winner, Derry man David Simpson occupied seventh after tipping the second part of the double for four faults in 39.60.

The International Riders and 128cms pony relay saw eight combinations compete but it was Dutch rider Harrie Smolders with Devino and pony rider Ellie Sheane and Newhaven Cooley who took the laurels in a combined winning time of 55.41. Germany's Barbara Schnieper on Galiso partnered with Donnacha Burns and his pony Coppenagh Viking to a worthy second place on 56.60 while third prize went to Ireland's Michael Pender on HHS Fortune together with pony rider Jennifer Meagher and Sasha on a joint time of 57.04.

Mark McAuley, Ireland's swiss based showjumping rider is the official Rolex Dublin series ambassador. The Ardee man is hoping for success in the Rolex Grand Prix. "For me Dublin is the highlight of them all, it is more important than any other show. My ultimate goal is to win, it is a dream I've had since I was a child, so I hope it will be this year."

As Alan Wade prepares his final course plan for the most prestigious Grand Prix ever staged in Dublin with the track firmly under wraps, Rolex PR Oceane Marsaupt added: "This is a new venue for the Rolex series, we are very impressed so far. It a colourful arena, lots of families, lots of ooohs and aaaahs. We are looking forward to seeing many young riders and hope that the Olympic riders are fresh and ready after their time in Paris." Oceane added with a smile: " I am French and of course I will be hoping a French rider wins."