Touting for clues on ‘€1m offer’ for World Cruise
Eventually, the trail led to the international stabling area and Vinny Duffy, a farmer from Ballina, Co Mayo, who wouldn’t say if he had received the reputed offer for his family’s 10-year-old gelding, World Cruise.
The horse is being ridden with considerable success at home and abroad by Cashel rider Shane Breen.
“I have never been asked a question like that in my life,” said Mr Duffy, when asked if he was the man at the centre of the speculation.
Mr Duffy confirmed, however, that several offers had been made for World Cruise, who is by the legendary Cruising, out of a Clover Hill mare.
“There is serious money on the table for him. But I am doing my best to try to keep him in the country. It is as much about flying the flag as anything,” he said.
Mr Duffy compared the horse, which he bought as a three-year-old, and his rider Shane Breen, with the partnership of Eddie Macken and Boomerang.
He predicted that Breen and Word Cruise, winners of nine Grand Prix in Ireland last year and part of three Irish Nations Cup teams, would contest the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Shane Breen described World Cruise as the best horse he had ridden.
The sprawling RDS grounds were a hive of activity yesterday for the pageantry and excitement of the celebrated Aga Khan Trophy, highlight of the show, which concludes tomorrow .
President Mary McAleese, members of the diplomatic corps and a sell-out crowd watched in the sunshine as teams from eight nations competed for points in the Samsung Super League.
Cian O’Connor and Waterford Crystal were first into the arena for Ireland, rank outsiders at 14/1 with Paddy Power bookmakers to retain the trophy.
Germany, the first to go, had set a single fault target, but O’Connor, who was given a warm reception from the crowd, incurred four faults at the fifth of the 12 obstacles, which he completed just inside the 81 seconds allowed.
Meanwhile, the show trade display was described as “a shopping heaven”.
A greater buzz is planned for the venue later this month (August 21-25), when delegates from more than 100 countries will attend the world beekeepers’ congress.
