Kelly fourth, Carey fifth in Falsterbo Derby

TWO Irish riders finished in the top five of the famous Falsterbo Derby in Sweden this afternoon (Saturday), in a tough competition that saw only one clear round, from French winner Jerome Hurel and the bay gelding Warrior, who took the 20,000 euro first prize.

Twenty-nine year old Capt. Michael Kelly steered the Minister for Defence’s 16 year-old grey Irish Sport Horse mare Mo Chroi to one of her best results of the season, when finishing fourth on four faults and collecting 6,000 euro.

Limerick’s Shane Carey, who won the Derby Qualifier on Friday with Jackie Bolger and Mel Sutelipp’s gelding Ballymore Eustace, had an unfortunate stop early on the five-star course today with the same horse, but recovered to leave all the poles intact for a four fault penalty, his time coming in at fractions of a second behind Kelly for a fifth place and 3,600 euro.

Kelly will be the only Irish entrant in Sunday’s 200,000 euro Falsterbo Grand Prix, this time riding the Minister for Defence’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Annestown, and drawn 18th to jump of 44 starters.

BREEDING:

Mo Chroi (ISH) – 1997 grey mare by Cruising (ISH) out of Into The Blue (ISH), by Mister Lord (TB). Bred by Claire McDonnell, Ballymoney Park Stud, Kilbride, Co. Wicklow. Owner: Minister for Defence. Rider: Capt. Michael Kelly (IRL)

Annestown (ISH) – 2002 bay gelding by Royal Concorde (ISH) out of Annestown Cavalier (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Bred by Margaret Moore, Ballinagorkagh, Annestown, Co. Waterford. Owner: Minister for Defence. Rider: Capt. Michael Kelly (IRL)