Jordan Coyle and Mikey Pender gave the gleeful home support plenty to shout about as a landmark Dublin Horse Show kicked off with a bang thanks to two Irish five-star victories in the Main Arena at the RDS.
It is a special renewal at the iconic Simmonscourt venue, as 150 years of the historic show are being celebrated and what better way to do it than with the opening pair of 1.45m speed classes going the way of revered local heroes.
Jordan Coyle has been rocketing up the world rankings with a slew of five-star victories in recent months, jumping another seven places in the latest table to 35, so it should have come as no surprise that he would continue to deliver on territory he knows so well.
The Derry rider led a field of 44 to take the honours in the Heathman Farm Speed Stakes this morning, producing a blisteringly fast clear round on the Harry Marshall-bred Millview Cicero (ISH).
The 11-year-old gelding is normally the ride of Dermott Lennon, the former world individual champion and European team champion, who is a close friend of Coyle’s and mentored him for a period.
Coyle and Cicero ambled into the arena with pathfinder Susan Fitzpatrick and Lovely Stassi PS in the lead having gone clear in a time of 54.76. A total of 26 combinations failed to improve upon that standard until Coyle and Millview Cicero (below) stopped the clock on 52.70.
That was untouchable, and only Adrian Whiteaway (GBR) got anywhere close, just edging out Fitzpatrick for second with I Am A Harley registering a clear in 54.40.
“To win anything here is good and to be fair, it’s only my third time ever riding the horse,” Coyle explained. “It belongs to a very good friend of mine, Dermott Lennon, and he’s done all the work with it, so maybe I stole all the glory today!
“Me and Dermott are friends now for a few years. He come and spent a year with me and it changed everything for me, having a man like that to be there with me 24/7. I learned an unbelievable amount of stuff from him. If I could have my way I’d have him more often but that year was invaluable, to be honest.
“All the horses are good now. Chaccolino has been a serious contestant in the Grands Prix. He’s clear every time. For Gold has just been an absolute winning machine. He was brilliant in Spruce (Meadows) but before he went to Spruce he also was winning and then last week in Hickstead, he won one class but he was very unlucky to not win two classes. And he should have won the main class today (when posting the quickest time of 66.72 but having the unluckiest of four faults).
“It is lovely to have one on the board on home territory but if I had my way, I’d win every class I jump in! That’s the way we are and if you aren’t, you shouldn’t be there.
“I have the three horses for the week: For Gold, Chaccolino and Millview Cicero. For Gold is in the (Anglesea) Speed (Stakes) tomorrow and I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t win and I’ll jump Chaccolino in the (Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes), which is a qualifier for the Grand Prix.”
In a sign of what was to come, the consistent Pender was fourth on HHS Cyprus (ISH) but the Castledermot pilot entered the winner’s enclosure in the next event, the Minerva Stakes.
There were 47 participants attempting to clear the 11 obstacles in the quickest time possible and with HHS Fortune accurate and quick, it was comfortable enough for Pender, the duo registering a flawless round in 51.23 to see off Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Joan.
Trevor Breen completed the podium with Konrad Obolensky.
The 1.55m Sport Ireland Classic narrowly escaped Pender’s clutches, as Richard Vogel (GER) and Phenyo van het Keysersbos went around blemish-free in 67.57 – 0.85 seconds slower than Coyle and For Gold.
The winning clear was just 0.32 seconds faster than the in-form Pender and HHS Los Angeles (ISH). Former Irish chef d’equipe, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) was third with Dhalida.
“I’m absolutely delighted with how the horses jumped today,” said Pender. “Obviously, it’s the biggest show of the year for us. Hopefully we can get the horses here, safe and sound. That’s the first thing and then, to be able to perform to our best.
“We couldn’t do it without the team at home. It’s because of everybody working so hard that days like this are possible, that you can come to the biggest show of the year for us and have a great day and every horse jump good.
“Hopefully now, we can get qualified for the Grand Prix and pull a result out in that.”
BREEDING
MILLVIEW CICERO (ISH) – 2014 gelding by Cicero Z Van Paemal (BWP) out of Royal Dutch (KWPN) by Oklund (KWPN). Breeder: Harry Marshall. Owner: Bronte Stables Ltd. Rider: Jordan Coyle (IRL).
HHS FORTUNE (ISH) – 2011 mare by Catoki (HOLST) out of HHS Daisy (ISH) by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN). Breeder and owner: Marion Hughes, Co. Kilkenny. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).
HHS LOS ANGELES (ISH) – 2014 mare by Le Roi (ZDP) out of China Cavalier (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Marion Hughes. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).
HHS CYPRUS (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Cornet Obolensky (BWP) out of HHS Acorado (ISH) by Acorado (HOLST). Breeder: Marion Hughes. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).