Coyle cousins and Swail among big winners

It’s another memorable week for Irish riders and breeders on the international circuit

Christian Coyle (photographed above by Erin Gilmore en route to victory with Extravaganza Semilly) beat off the challenge of first cousin Daniel in not-so-sunny Florida to secure the $62,700 first prize in the weather affected Live Oak International Grand Prix last night (Sunday).

And while that was happening, over in California, Conor Swail was securing a second major four-star prize of the week in the 1.50m Classic to bring the Desert International Horse Park season to a triumphant conclusion.

And Irish breeders also figured prominently with winning machine Killossery Konfusion (ISH) denying Swail another major victory by taking first prize in a $200,000 four-star Grand Prix on Saturday.

LOI proved to be an excellent show for the Coyle crew from Derry, with Daniel having sampled success earlier in the week, as did the Olympian’s brother Jordan. Jordan also claimed a valuable development class over the road in Ocala at the World Equestrian Center with Keep Me With You NC, with Daniel and wonder mare Legacy back in fifth.

But in the feature four-star class at Live Oak, it was Christian who prevailed with another talented and extremely consistent mare, Alexis Bodo’s Extravaganza Semilly.

Six pairings made it through to the jump-off after navigating the 16 obstacles without fault in the initial 1.60m test.

There were nine hurdles to clear in round two but only Christian Coyle and his 11-year-old bay managed to leave them all up and that was good enough to claim the lion’s share of the $190,000 prize fund.

“I was lucky enough to go just before the weather broke in round one and jumped clear,” said the Christian Coyle. “She gave a great effort (in the jump-off). I’ve always believed in this mare.”

Daniel praised the ground staff for producing an immaculate surface following the deluge that caused a delay in proceedings and while disappointed not to win, was satisfied to keep it in the family.

“When the weather broke today, I wasn’t sure it was going to be my day,” said Daniel. “At one point, it seemed impossible to jump. I walked into the arena a few times and thought, ‘This class can’t go.’ But I have to say, the arena was incredible. It was underwater, and an hour later, we were jumping again.

“When I walked back in, I thought, ‘Now Farrel has a chance.’ I’m happy to have jumped clear in round one, and with just one down in the jump-off, well, if I can’t win, it might as well be another Coyle.”

The pair were actually the fastest combination in the tie-breaker, recording a lightning time of 44.02 seconds, but that one rail down meant that they had to settle for the runner-up berth on this occasion.

The duo had been victorious earlier, showcasing that pace once more when winning the 1.55m speed class on Friday night (photographed below by Erin Gilmore). They delivered with a clear round in 65.11 seconds, pipping Live Oak International co-president Chloe D Reid and Chelsea 179 by 0.16 of a second.

Ariel Grange’s 15-year-old gelding and his regular partner have been familiar figures in the winner’s circle at the World Equestrian Center in the past few weeks, so it came as no surprise that they would emerge successful once more at Live Oak.

It was a good double on the day for the Coyle siblings, as Daniel’s older brother Jordan landed a four-star 1.40m class earlier on with Jorisca.

There was double joy for Swail, as the Down pilot finally entered the winner’s enclosure last night (Sunday) in Thermal with Theo 160 after a series of near-misses, even though they produced what the 54-year-old maintained was an imperfect jump-off round.

That came after the enduring figure of Count Me In had proven too quick for the opposition in a 1.45m speed class on Friday night.

Mannon Farm’s Theo 160 produced one of five clear rounds. Second into the arena in the jump-off, they set a time of 39.20 seconds that could not be bested.

“‘Theo’ has been incredible the whole tour,” said Swail of the 13-year-old. “He’s been second, third, second, third, third, fourth. I mean, he’s been clear and clear and clear and clear. So, I’m just so happy that he won today because he really deserved it. Honestly, nearly more than any of them. He’s been probably the most consistent throughout the duration.

“The jump off, honestly, I wasn’t that happy with. I thought it was very ragged. Again, Theo was being super… He was very good to me to jump the last two jumps well, and thankfully we won. It just wasn’t my favourite one. I wanted him to win today, and I didn’t feel I did a great job to help him do that, to be honest. Sometimes you win whenever it’s maybe not the best round you’ve ever had, and I think that was one of those rounds today.”

Count Me In indicated that there was no dulling of his ability to shift through the gears in another test of pace in a 1.45m examination in Thermal.

It was a second victory in under a week for the Conall Murray-owned Crosby (photographed above by High Desert Sport Photo on his lap of honour with Swail’s equally famous and rapid dog Ralphie), who will forever be remembered for securing the Aga Khan Trophy in a dramatic jump-off in 2022.

“Honestly, he is one of the best horses I’ve had in my career, and I’ve had some very nice ones,” said Swail of the Sandy Lupton/Mannon Farm-owned Hanoverian. “A lot of places he’s taken me are all firsts for me – World Cup Finals, winning the Aga Khan, Aachen for the first time. He’s a wonderful horse.

“Obviously, now he’s 18, I’m doing a few smaller classes. He’s a very confidence-orientated horse. I suppose all horses are, but particularly him. He gets a bit edgy and nervous, then he doesn’t just jump as well. So, what I try and do is make him comfortable…It’s nice that I can pull him out and jump around there. I thought he was great today.”

The Darragh Cross athlete and My Lady Lavista continued their excellent form with a podium finish in the $200,000 four-star Grand Prix on Saturday. The class was claimed by winning machine Killossery Konfusion (ISH), bred in Dublin by Frank and Laura Glynn and ridden by Jos Verlooy (BEL).

Five of the octet that made it through the opening round posted double clears, with Swail and My Lady Lavista securing $30,000 by grabbing third with a time of 45.61.

There was no stopping Killossery Konfusion and Verlooy however, who had more than a second in hand on runners-up, Keri Potter (USA) and Kalimera Van De Nethe Z.

Meanwhile, there were three Irish riders in the top five of the four-star Horseware Ireland Grand Prix in Wellington.

A total of 14 combinations progressed from the initial cohort of 40 to the jump-off and the trio of Green Jackets among that group finished in the slipstream of winner Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) on H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z and runner-up Marilyn Little (USA) and La Contessa.

Tipperary’s Tom Wachman led the way in grabbing a significant slice of the $215,000 pot on board Do It Easy, their clear round in 40.61 less than three-quarters of a second off the winning time.

Wexford athlete Bertram Allen followed up his Friday podium with a fourth-place finish alongside Qonquest De Rigo, while Meath-based Kildare native, Cian O’Connor made it into the top five on Iron Man.

That aforementioned podium finish for Allen came with Gary De Cerisy in a four-star 1.50m speed class in Wellington on Friday, where Wachman’s brother, Max and Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny were also third in a jump-off the night before.

Back in Europe, another Irish Sport Horse, the Liam Nicholas-owned-and-bred Express Trend, bagged a bronze medal position in a four-star 1.50m speed competition in Vejer de la Frontera for Galway girl, Jessica Burke on Thursday,

On Sunday, young Kilkenny talent, Seamus Hughes Kennedy steered ESI Rocky (USH) – owned by his mother Clare Hughes and bred by Ennisnag Stud – to the second in the four-star Salamanca Grand Prix as Week 6 of the Andalucía Sunshine Tour concluded at the Spanish venue.

Earlier in the day, Cork rider, Billy Twomey scored in the Medium Tour Grand Prix. Twomey guided Ace Of Hearts Z to a double clear in the 1.50m class, the nine-year-old stallion claiming top spot thanks to a clear in 40.40 seconds in the 11-strong jump-off.

On the Toscana Tour, Kilkenny pilot, Susan Fitzpatrick finished runners-up in a three-star two-phase Grand Prix Qualifier with Lovely Stassi PS and the pair backed up that performance by securing fifth in the Grand Prix with a fantastic double clear..

Limerick man, Paul O’Shea led an Irish 1-3-6 in the $100,000 Dutta Corporation CSI2* Grand Prix in Terranova on Saturday, taking top spot with Spy and sixth place with Hellcat as Offaly’s Daragh Kenny finished third on board Lightning.

BREEDING

Kilkenny (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Cardento (HOLST) out of MHS Pembrook Lady (ISH) by Guidam (SF). Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Susan Magnier. Rider: Max Wachman (IRL).

Express Trend (ISH) – 2010 gelding by Future Trend (OLD) out of Condios Express (ISH) by Condios (HOLST). Breeder and owner: Liam Nicholas. Rider: Jessica Burke (IRL).

FTS Killossery Konfusion (AKA FTS Killossery Kusokurae) (ISH) – 2010 gelding by SIEC Livello (HOLST) out of Killossery Kruisette (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Frank & Laura Glynn, Co. Dublin. Owner: Euro Horse BVBA. Rider: Jos Verlooy (BEL).

ESI Rocky (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Stakkato Gold (HANN) out of Clonaslea (BWP) by For Pleasure (HANN). Breeder: Ennisnag Stud. Owner: Clare Hughes. Rider: Seamus Hughes Kennedy