Top eventer gives Smith a vote of confidence for World Cup qualifier
The Kildare woman has had to withdraw Just Beauty Queen from the feature class after the mare suffered a “knock”, but feels a second win in a row for the Irish at the Cork show is more a probability than a possibility.
“Steven Smith is in with a very good chance. His big horse, Quality VH, has had three runs this year and two wins. It is hard to see him being beaten.” she said.
She had, however, prefaced her rating by saying she hoped Corkman Neilius O’Donoghue would retain his title, having won the inaugural competition last year.
“I’m hoping Neilius wins again,” she said in what was, perhaps, a case of her heart ruling her head, O’Donoghue only just returned following a serious injury to his neck.
She dismissed his attempt to play down his chances, saying: “He competed at Tyrella twice in the past few weeks and the horse has gone well both times. They were the perfect warm-up for Ballindenisk.”
Smith graciously accepted Shortt’s compliments, but then refused to don the favourite’s mantle.
“It’s lovely of her to say I’m her top tip and I’ll definitely be going out to win, but I couldn’t agree with her assessment.”
Shortt’s reasoning is not without merit, however, regardless of what Smith says. The imposing 13-year-old black gelding Quality VH performed well at Boekelo last year and, notably, already carried Smith to victory at Ballindenisk on his first visit to the Cork venue last month. He went on to win again at Annaharvey and the rider also believes he could have achieved his hat-trick at Tyrella, where he finished fifth.
“We were in the lead after the dressage and show jumping, but I went slow around the cross-country as I was going to Barbados and played safe. I picked up lots of time faults, but I feel I could have won,” he opined.
In saying all that, however, he feels his other ride Colour Coded has a greater chance of carrying him to success, purely because of his draw. “He is in with a better chance, even though I have only had him since January. He is going second of the two horses on the cross country and I suspect I will only get a feel for the track on Quality VH.”
Eventing Ireland’s new performance director Lars Christensson will be in Ballindenisk to assess competitors ahead of this year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) and Smith feels he can prove his up to the challenge.
“I hope to be in the reckoning for WEG. I would like to think I have as good a chance as any. I feel, though, that I am playing catch-up as I have never been on a team. I always got horses up to a certain level, but then sold them on and a few distinguished themselves at the top level. For example, Ringfort Tinker Too, a stallion I rode that was previously owned by Harron Eakin Farms went to the US and the feedback is very good. But, now, I don’t need to sell horses,” said Smith, who has a new yard at Gilford.
Other Irish riders bidding to acquit themselves include Wexford’s Niall Griffin (Lorgaine), Phillippa Mains (Super Seal), Sherelle Duke (Ballystockart), Bandon rider Patricia Donegan (Fernhill Clover Mist) and her fiance Michael Ryan (Brave Spirit).
The main foreign threat will come from Briton Mathew Wright, both Shortt and Smith concur, but the latter feels O’Donoghue is the one everyone will be watching.
He was in stunning form last year when beating triple Olympic gold medalist Matt Ryan and Smith feels a repeat is on the cards.
“I would not put it past him to do it again. I would place him in front of everyone. He is brilliant at all phases and definitely can do the business.”
O’Donoghue, however, rates his chances as slim. He again saddles up the Edmund Burke-sired grey gelding Balladeer Alfred, but, having only returned to competition two weeks ago, following a crashing fall last September that left him with two broken vertebrae in his neck, he says: “If I was to be honest, I think I will be a little bit out of my depth at Ballindenisk and I am just glad to be able compete. Anything after that is a bonus.”
* AREZZO in Italy continues to be fertile ground for Ireland’s show jumpers. Derby honours on the Gold Tour went to Shane Breen and Mullaghadrin Gold Rain, the Tipp rider with almost three seconds to spare over runner-up Capt Shane Carey on Hands Free, while Cameron Hanley (SIEC Night Dancer) finished ninth. World Champion Dermott Lennon was crowned the Speed Master with Doraday, as Capt Carey and Hands Free again featured, slotting into fourth, with Hanley (SIEC Royal Star) eighth. Cian O’Connor produced a double clear on Echo Beach to finish eighth of 59 starters in the grand prix. Ryan Crumley with Baltimore, beat 65 rivals to take top prize in a Silver Tour 1.40m class.
* IRELAND’S pony riders showed they are every bit as competitive and talented as their older, more celebrated senior compatriots when winning the nations cup for the second successive time at Fontainebleau, France, last weekend. For good measure, they added four individual wins and selectors chairperson Coreen Conway said they left with a haul of more than 30 rosetttes.
Jessica Bourke (Claremount Sam), Steven Duncan (Clogherboy Mirah), Connor Legget (Bundy) and Peter Moloney (Jackman Street) beat seven other teams to claim the nations cup by a single fault. Legget was the star, producing a double clear, as the team finished on a parsimonious eight faults. Germany were runners-up on nine, with the Netherlands third on 16.
The Irish had given plenty of warning of their threat. Liggett rode Bundy to fourth place in Saturday’s grand prix. Elizabeth Bowen (Borrismore Queen) led a one-two in a speed class, coming home more than a second ahead of Shane Goggins (Hill House United Colours). Andrew Latta (Cappagh Supreme) finished tops in a 1.30m speed class. Jessica Bourke steered Bean Alaining to victory in a 1.25m speed class, with Peter Moloney (Derravaragh Gambler) third. Nikki Murphy, from Waterfall, Co Cork, led the Irish charge when victorious on Some Man For One Man in the second competition, boosting confidence early on at what is a highly-competitive fixture.
Paddy McDonagh won the individual leading male rider title in the CSIP.
* JESSICA KURTEN was at the top of her game when taking the World Cup pre-qualifier at Gothenburg, Sweden, last Friday with Quibell. It gave her the advantage of being last to go in Sunday’s qualifier, the last on the Western European League. The world number two rider seemed to be in line for another tilt at victory, but the last fence ensured she would play no part in the jump-off.
Kurten had reason to be cheerful when lifting the Gothenburg Trophy after riding Castle Forbes Libertina to victory in a 1.55m jump-off contest. She was expected to compete with Quibell in Kuala Lumpur but has opted for Libertina, saying the former did not react well to flying and a long flight could damage her chances.
