Flamboyant Colombian Bluman takes Dublin Puissance prize

UNLIKE last year, when first prize was shared amongst three riders, Dublin Horse Show’s famous Land Rover Puissance competition was won outright this evening (Saturday) by flamboyant Colombian rider Daniel Bluman and his grey stallion Clyde, who netted 11,500 euro for first place.

The only combination to clear the red wall when it was raised to 2.2 metres, Bluman dropped his reins and extended his arms in a dazzling gesture of victory even before the horse had landed on the green turf of the RDS.

However, Irish riders were strongly represented at the famous competition, and 18 year-old Michael Duffy with SIEC Oberon shared second place with Ger Clarke and Zanzibar V, both riders faulting at the fourth jump-off. Mark McAuley and Loriot claimed fourth place, with Ger Clarke again featuring, taking fifth place on Jakes Dream. Irish riders also filled the next six places.

In the earlier JLT Dublin Stakes jump-off, Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Balloon took second place to US rider Kent Farrington and Blue Angel, while Clem McMahon took an emotional victory in the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored “Cruising” National Championship for Six Year Old Horses. The Monaghan rider, who lost his 2012 Aga Khan winning team horse Pacino to illness earlier this year, was the popular winner today with Susan Stewart’s Hawkswings.

Thirteen Irish riders are part of the 41-strong startlist in Sunday afternoon’s Longines Grand Prix at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, when 200,000 euro will be offered in prize money.