Darragh Kenny celebrates birthday with Grand Prix victory in Florida

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny has continued his excellent form at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, by scoring a win in last night’s (Saturday) $134,000 Adequan three-star Grand Prix with the Ann Thompson-owned gelding Classic Dream.

Darragh Kenny and Classic Dream (Photo © Sportfot)

Kenny, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday, has already clocked up a number of victories since the Winter Equestrian Festival got underway at the start of January.

Drawn fifth to go in a 10 horse jump-off, Kenny and the 10-year-old Classic Dream scorched around the course to post what proved the winning clear round in a time of 42.42 seconds.

“I kind of just went!” said Kenny of his jump-off plan. “He [Classic Dream] hasn’t done so many jump-offs. He has never jumped a Grand Prix like this before in his life, but he really wants to do a good job. I think I was lucky. I got a really good turn back to the Rolex [jump] and to the wall, and he just tries to miss the jumps, so for me it is easy if I don’t screw it up.”

Kenny purchased Classic Dream as a six-year-old with former World Champion Jos Lansink, who then sold his share to Ann Thompson. “This is a really amazing result for us because we bought the horse when he was six, and we have produced him the whole way along,” said Kenny. “I think we are both really excited about the horse. Today he showed that he has a lot of quality and ability, and I think we are just going to take our time.”

The $134,000 Adequan Grand Prix podium – Kent Farrington (USA), Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Beezie Madden (USA) pictured with Allyn Mann, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Kathy Serio, Senior Territory Manager at American Regent Animal Health, Photo © Sportfot.

World No.4 Kent Farrington (USA) and Baltic Star came the closest to Kenny with a time of 43.23 to finish second, while another American rider, Beezie Madden, took third place on the podium with Chic Hin D Hyrencourt.