Army showjumpers set their sights on Millstreet cash
Lt Shane Carey said he and his brothers in arms would target the cash-rich jump-off classes, notably tonight’s €6,000 Dairygold Indoor Derby and tomorrow’s €10,000 Dairygold Indoor Grand Prix.
Lt Carey made no bones about their ambition and said they had the ammunition to do the job: “We have, more or less, our top string here with us. I have Killossery, and Lismakin, a
nations cup horse, while Lt David O’Brien has Boherdeal Clover and Carraig Dubh. Between them, they have won 25 international classes this year.”
He also alluded to the fact that the horses were well prepared for the show, having had a break from competition since returning from a summer of nations cup duty that saw them in action in such places as Croatia and Greece.
“We have had no show since returning from Athens three weeks ago and will be taking this show seriously. There’s good money on offer,” said the Crecora, Co Limerick rider, who rated their chances as “very good”.
In the first of the open horse classes yesterday, Lt O’Brien slotted into sixth on Killossery Kruisette, behind victor Shane Breen aboard Sculptured. The Cashel rider’s winning time of 50.98 seconds in the one-round speed class was almost half a second better than Harry Marshall riding Pakko. Third went to Steven Smith (Wise Crack).
In the opening class, the 1.30m qualifier for tomorrow’s final, Gabriel Slattery held sway with Bahrain Cruise. His clear round in 33.20 seconds beating the time of runner-up Owen Horan and Ohio Girl by almost two seconds. Third went to Waterford’s Francis Connors with Jaynick. In the 1.10m, Kilkenny’s Gerard O’Neill proved unsinkable with Michael Blake’s Titanic. He was also third with Only Lucy. Separating these was Breen and Carron Picasso.
Meanwhile, at the Zuidlaren CSI-A in the Netherlands yesterday, Ireland’s Dermott Lennon had almost a second to spare in winning a 1.40m class with Ginger Watt. The world champion set a time of 46.86 seconds to beat the 47.57 seconds of Dutch rider Johan Laseur and Noilly Prat. His compatriot Albert Voorn was third on Collezione Cesaro Panthera in 49.50.
At the same show Conor Swail and Vincent Howley placed third. Down rider Swail and Windgates Mystique finished one place better than compatriot Ronan Clarke with Athletico in a 1.45m class. Howley’s placing came aboard Speedy De Laubry.
