Lynch and Allen third in GCL Super Cup Final
It was a good week for Michael Duffy with two top-five five-star finishes, including a podium, in California, while in team competition, Denis Lynch and Bertram Allen contributed to New York Empire finishing third in the lucrative final of the Global Champions League in Prague.
Duffy kicked off in Santa Anita Park with a five-star top five with Chili Pepper H M Z, clocking 27.73 in the speed part of the 145m two-phase contest.
He improved on that when third with Be Sky Hawk in the $100,000 1.50m Welcome Stakes at the Arcadia venue (below).
Ten jumped clear but only seven participated in the jump-off and the Turloughmore athlete and his talented nine-year-old stopped the timers in 37.13 to edge out McLain Ward (USA) and First Lady for third, with overall victory going to Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and Argentina de la Marchette.
On Friday, James Chawke piloted Daido van’t Ruytershof Z to runner-up in the 1.45m five-star speed class behind Erynn Ballard (CAN) with Her Game Ball BG.
Ballard had around half a second in hand on the Abbeyleix native, who in turn had just more than three-quarters of a second to spare on German Richard Vogel with Con Quality.
On Saturday, Conor Swail (IRL) added a few more points to his North American League FEI Jumping World Cup tally, despite having four faults with nine-year-old Brian Duff-bred, Oliver Glancy-owned Clonterm Obolensky (ISH).
He continues to lead the standings with 41 points. The night’s winner Ward (who steered High Star Hero to victory after a seven-horse jump-off) moved into second with 36, followed by Laura Kraut (USA) with 33. Daniel Coyle, who sat out of this week’s competition, has fallen to fifth but remains in strong contention. The NAL resumes in the New Year at Thermal on January 31.
Meanwhile, the Global Champions Play-Offs got under way in a city that will be thronged with Irish people on March 26 for another play-off, involving the international soccer team.
Neal Fearon was sixth in the first individual competition on Thursday, guiding Derryglen Obsidian to a clear round in 56.62, just behind the Irish Sport Horse EIC Cooley Jump the Q (bred by Pam Walshe) and Max Kühner.
The 1.45m speed class was won by Ales Opartrny (CZE) with Kapsones W, while Lynch also made it inside the top eight with Katja.
On Friday, Fearon and Cocktail de Talma jumped clear in 69.20 to help Scandinavia Kings into fifth in the first competition of the GCL Super Cup, a 1.60m speed class, while on Saturday, Lynch and Allen led the way for New York Empire in their third-place return in the second team competition.
With clear rounds at a premium, Lynch with Cordial and Allen with Simon Scott-bred Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro, both had one rail down. With Scott Brash (GBR) having two jumping erros aboard Hello Jefferson, that left the team with a total of 16 faults and earning €200,000.
That ensured their place in the final for the GCL Super Cup Final. Once again over a super tough track, the scorecard was littered with big numbers. Lynch and Cordial’s four faults in the first round and a clear from Allen and Pacino Amiro, allied with a one of only three double clears on the night from Brash and Hello Jefferson, left New York on an aggregate of 28 faults and third place, the team sharing a stunning €1.5m
In Gorla Minore on Sunday, Mark McAuley was third in a 1.45m two-star speed class with L’Arc En Ciel Z.
CLONTERM OBOLENSKY (ISH) – 2016 stallion by Cornet Obolensky (BWP) out of She Has The Lux (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Brian Duff, Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Owner: Oliver Raymond Glancy. Rider: Conor Swail (IRL).
PACINO AMIRO (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) by NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon Scott, Co Donegal. Owner: Ballywalter Stables Ltd. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL).
EIC COOLEY JUMP THE Q (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Jump The Q (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD). Breeder: Pam Walshe, Co Carlow. Owner: MK Sportpferde Max Kühner & Remo Baleri. Rider: Max Kühner (AUT).