Jordan Coyle was a little disappointed with himself but still posted his fourth individual five-star triumph of the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show, sending his cherished 17-year-old Eristov (owned by the rider and Elan Farm) into retirement in Derry with a shared victory in the Defender Puissance.
Both the Irish duo and last year’s history-making pair Rachael Proudley (GBR) and Easyboy de Laubry Z, both failed to clear the 2.25m wall. With Longford’s Derek McCoppin and Explosief’s Legacy (Addington Stables) posting eight faults in the final jump-off, it was Coyle and Proudley that shared the honours.
It was a sixth top-flight victory for Irish athletes this week. Tom Wachman made it five when winning the Gallagher Stakes in the Laya Arena this afternoon.
The Cashel native secured the 1.50m jump-off class with a virtuoso effort on board Do It Easy (Coolmore Showjumping) in the Gallagher Stakes.
The 1.50m jump-off class produced a dozen clear rounds though only 11 had a tilt at the €17,040 first prize.
There were some quick four faults in the tiebreak, including from Coyle, and one of his Wednesday winners Cordiamo.
The duo finished seventh though with three wins at that point and a double clear in the Aga Khan on Chaccolino from yesterday, it was a safe enough bet that the Ardmore native was still smiling.
In all, only four combinations could keep all the jumps intact at the second time of asking and it was Wachman and his 13-year-old gelding that prevailed with a time of 37.02, compared to the 37.61 posted by Natalie Dean with Pedro Van De Barlebuis, with Dean’s USA Aga Khan-winning teammate, Laura Kraut third on Una Mariposa.
“I was delighted with that. Do It Easy is a very good horse, he’s been very consistent lately. He’s been so good for my career,” Wachman said afterwards.
“It’s always special to win here in Dublin with the home crowd so it’s great.
“There’s a big team of people with Cian (O’Connor), Ross (Mulholland) and all the team in Karlswood, and my family support me a lot so I’m just delighted.
“When myself and Cian walked the course, we planned 12 strides, not crazy. We saw Natalie Dean going in first, going 11, so Cian said to me, ‘make sure you make up enough time that you can go the 12, that he has time to jump it.’ He was dead right with the plan, as usual.
Commandant Geoff Curran just missed out in the morning’s Royal Dublin Society Stakes with the Paul Douglas-bred Irish Sport Horse, DHF Alliance (Jess Stallard & Minister For Defence).
The 11-year-old mare is a standing dish around the RDS with her big heart and dashing approach and she gave it all she had once more for her Waterford navigator.
An electric clear in 60.18 secured the silver medal on this occasion, with Richard Vogel (GER) and Chember 3 just having too much firepower on this occasion, posting a time of 59.33.
The international action in the now traditional welter of excitement, as every vantage point in the Laya Arena was utilised.
The contestants responded with a trio clearing the 2.15m that was sufficient for Proudley and her 12-year-old last year.
In the end, she shared the spoils with the week’s standout performer.
“I actually feel disappointed,” Coyle said on RTÉ, as he reflected on his grey gelding, who will now be looked after his father Fergal, having jumped his last obstacle in competition.
“I think I let him down big time in the last round. I think he actually would have jumped it if I had have done my job. But for him to retire like this is unbelievable.
“He’s actually the horse that started everything for me. What he has given me has been unbelievable. And for him to retire like this is incredible, to be honest.
“This is definitely my favourite horse show in the world, and for some reason, every time I come, I seem to be very lucky.”
BREEDING
DHF ALLIANCE (ISH) – 2015 Mare by Ard Vdl Douglas (KWPN) out of Rosie Bee (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Paul Douglas, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone. Owner: Jess Stallard & Minister for Defence. Rider: Commandant Geoff Curran (IRL).