Kenny grabs RDS feature, Derwin also bags five-star prize

Darragh Kenny and Chic Chic, victorious in the Sport Ireland Classic at the Dublin Horse Show (Photos: Laurence Dunne/jumpinaction.net)

Home is where the heart is for the Irish as Dublin Horse Show gets under way

Darragh Kenny has led home an Irish 1-2 in the Sport Ireland Classic on the opening day of the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS this evening.

Kenny’s triumph in the day’s feature, in conjunction with his 13-year-old stallion Chic Chic, came at the primary expense of Mikey Pender and the Irish Sport Horse HHS Los Angeles.

This positive result for Irish riders – Cian O’Connor also finished fourth on Fermoy, just ahead of world No 1 Henrik Von Eckermann (SWE) and Glamour Girl – concluded a day that started with European Championship U21 team gold and individual silver medallist, Francis Derwin also recording five-star glory in the first international class of the show this morning.

Kenny was following up last week’s four-star victory and subsequent Grand Prix runner-up finish in Deauville, and he celebrated being named the Irish Underwriting Exchange Show Jumping Team competing in Friday’s Aga Khan Cup by claiming top prize in the 1.60m speed class.

Kenny and Chic Chic went clear in a time of 69.17 seconds to become the ninth home rider to prevail in the last ten renewals of the Sport Ireland Classic. The winning time was marginally ahead of Kildare pilot Mikey Pender and the Kilkenny-bred HHS Los Angeles (ISH), who stopped the clock on 70.20.

“That’s a good start to the week,” said a grinning Kenny. “It’s always nice to be home here in Dublin. It’s a brilliant show and to win is always great.

“He’s a super horse. He’s been unbelievably consistent all summer. The last five shows he’s been at, he won a ranking class at every one of them except one, which he was second at. He’s been on-form all summer.

“I brought him here for this class and he feels great and he jumped super so I was really happy it all worked out.

“For a little horse he’s got a really big stride and he really tries so you can go at the jumps. You needn’t worry too much about him knocking him down. He doesn’t often knock them down.”

Francis Derwin and Parvati AEG, winners if this morning’s five-star Speed Stakes

The first international class of the week went to Derwin, who actually spearheaded an Irish 1-2-3 in the Main Arena at the RDS. The Athlone athlete, was victorious in the first five-star speed class today, beating off the challenges of his Euro-conquering teammate, Niamh McEvoy and the man who jumped three clear rounds at the Olympic Games, Daniel Coyle.

Derwin has enjoyed a lot of domestic success with Parvati AEG this year but they took it to another level by seeing off a strong global challenge of 43 combinations for the five-star 1.45m test against the clock.

While almost half of the field went clear (21), none were as rapid as Derwin and his nine-year-old chestnut mare, who registered a time of 52.51 seconds despite only being fourth into the ring.

That was almost a second clear of McEvoy, who joined forces with the Irish Sport Horse Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick. They had followed the winners into the fray and produced a round that beat of all other comers.

Coyle was another second back on Lena VDL, to complete a podium with a distinctly green hue.

In the afternoon’s five-star speed class, the Minerva Stakes by LHK Insurance, O’Connor bagged a podium finish when claiming third on Fox Chapel.

A total of 39 combinations had a tilt at the afternoon 1.45m speed class, with victory going to Emilie Conter (BEL) and Ocean Quality, with Julien Gonin (FRA) and Estrella de la Batia in second.

O’Connor and Fox Chapel were safe and fast for third, while Pender made it into the top five in fifth on Irish Sport Horse HHS Cornetta, who like HHS Los Angeles (ISH), was bred in Kilkenny by Marion Hughes.

BREEDING

HHS LOS ANGELES (ISH) – 2014 mare by Le Roi (ZDP) out of China Cavalier (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Marion Hughes. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).

TEMPLEPATRICK WELCOME LIMERRICK (ISH) – 2010 mare by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Go Luckey (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Dorothea Wilson. Owner: Robin Bingham. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL).

HHS CORNETTA (ISH) – 2015 Mare by Cornet Obolensky (BWP) out of HHS Acorado (ISH) by Acorado (HOLST). Breeder: Marion Hughes. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).