McGuigan scores biggest success with ‘internet horse’
It was another move up the ladder for the Tyrone native, who has been slowly developing a good partnership with the Dutch-bred 10-year-old gelding he purchased without actually seeing it in the flesh.
“I’ve had him since he was a five-year-old. I bought him at the Hendrix auction, and I actually never went to try him. I just bought him off a DVD. When I bought him, all of my Irish pals called him the ‘internet horse’, but I had the last laugh tonight. He has been very consistent since I’ve had him,” said McGuigan, who relocated to the US 12 years ago and now has a farm in New Jersey.
While rated a two-star contest, the grand prix boasted a strong field, with nine nations represented in the 44-strong entry that saw nine riders advance to the jump-off in the unusually cold conditions. McGuigan was fifth to go, setting a time of 39.92 to overtake Todd Minikus and Quality Girl, a mare that had nine grands prix wins to her name last year.
McGuigan acknowledged that Saturday’s win was the highlight of his career to date.
“This is the first time I’ve really had a chance to jump at this level,” he said. “Mostly I have been training clients, so I’m just having fun with him. I’ve got a few new, young horses coming up behind him, so hopefully next year they can help me out a little and take the pressure off him,” said the Omagh native, whose win saw him extend his lead in the $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge.
Minikus was full of praise for the victor: “I’d like to congratulate Ronan; he has really done a great job with that horse. I have watched that horse, his career since Ronan started with him, and Ronan has done a hell of a job with him.”
He knew McGuigan was the danger man.
“Going early in the jump-off, I was mostly worried about Ronan because last year, during the summer, Ronan really started clicking with that horse and it is lightning fast.
“Going in early, you gotta be a little conservative and I kind of got stuck in the corner rolling back to the black vertical. I did one or two extra strides there that I didn’t need to, but going early, that’s what you have to do sometimes. Luck of the Irish was clearly there tonight.”
In Leipzig, Germany, Billy Twomey placed eighth in the World Cup qualifier with Tinka’s Serenade to edge closer to a spot in the final.
The Corkman made it through to a 12-horse jump-off, but rued four faults with the mare. The result, nevertheless, moved him to 17th on the Western European League with 22 points, roughly half required to make the final in France next April, and with just three European legs remaining.
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof also made the timed round yesterday, but four faults saw him finish in 10th place.
Earlier, Shane Breen placed second in the Youngster Cup with For Cento.
