Olympics in stars for Zodiak and Howley

Zodiak du Buisson Z and Richard Howley (Sportfot)

Five-star Mexican triumph headlines another strong week for Irish athletes

Richard Howley is excited about what the future might hold and admits to harbouring Olympic dreams after combining with the ultra-talented Zodiak du Buisson Z to deliver a stunning victory in the $339,500 five-star Grand Prix in Mexico on Monday morning Irish time.

It was an outstanding result for Howley and in particular, for his nine-year-old gelding son of Vdl Zirocco Blue.

This is a horse that is close to the heart of the Sligo native, having been produced along with his wife Morgan Kent, and the team at HK Horses since his purchase as a foal.

Howley took over the ride from Kent last year and Zodiak has continued to progress. They were victorious three times earlier this year, most notably in a five-star Longines League Of Nations Grand Prix Qualifier in Abu Dhabi last November.

Producing the goods stepped up to 1.60m is a considerable feat however, and while Los Angeles is a long way off in the horizon, Howley believes that with natural progression and a clear run, the City of Angels could be in the travel plans in four years’ time.

“It was a wonderful day,” Howley said this morning of the Grand Prix victory in Coapexpan. “I’m over the moon with my horse. It’s a huge achievement for a nine-year-old to be able to win a five-star Grand Prix. It’s not every day you see that so it was a truly remarkable day and a huge achievement for myself and my whole team.

“Zodiak is a great horse. We’ve had him and produced him since a foal. My wife rode him until he was eight and I took over the ride half-way through last summer.

“He is definitely a contender, I believe, for the next Olympic Games. He will be 13 then with a lot of experience at that stage. With everything going in the right direction, I believe he’s good enough.

“So I’m really excited to continue our campaign together and see where the future takes us.”

Only five combinations survived the opening examination set by Peter Grant (CAN) in the main grass arena and the Yorkshire-based Irish pair claimed the spoils by going clear in 40.74 seconds in the jump-off, which was quick enough to see off Daniel Deusser (GER) and Gangster v/h Noddevelt.

Further north, a double clear by Shane Sweetnam and RR Combella was the telling contribution as Maccabi United won Major League Show Jumping’s Greenwich leg on Saturday night. The Corkman and his ten-year-old mare had also been flawless when Maccabi took the middle spot in the podium last time out at Traverse City.

On this occasion, Mark Bluman (COL) and Ubiluc registered just one jumping error in two rounds while Vanessa Hood (USA) and Burlington Riverland managed the same, going clear in the medal jump-off in 36.45 to deliver outright success.

Darragh Kenny bagged a two-star speed class at the same show the previous night, as a prelude to silver medalling in the five-star jump-off competition.

In-form nine-year-old chestnut mare Serendepety (above), owned by Beerbaum Stables, was victorious in the first Grand Prix qualifier by going clear on the track set by Irish course builder, Alan Wade in a time of 60.43, more than two seconds faster than Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts and Pandora van de Kruishoeve. Galwegian Stephen Moore and eight-year-old Vico G were a noteworthy fourth in field of 53.

McLain Ward (USA) and Contagious denied Kenny a brilliant double at the Connecticut meet, jumping clear in a jump-off in the 1.50m class in a time of 36.79. The Offaly pilot, partnering Eddy Blue, also recorded a second clear in a time of 37.40 to earn €12,500 in prize money.

Jordan Coyle rounded off the top five with Jorisca, going quick in the jump-off (37.21) but having one rail down.

While there was no luck for The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping Team competing at the Nations Cup in Rabat on Sunday, Jessica Burke and African Affair were appropriate winners at the Moroccan show earlier in the morning.

This has been a pair to be reckoned with right through the year and they were easy winners of the two-star 1.45m Prix Sorec, coming out on top of a massive 16-combo jump-off to bag first prize.

The Galway athlete and her 13-year-old stallion, owned by Louisa Church, skated around the arena in a time of 35.82 to defeat home favourite Abdelkebir Quaddar with Istanbull V.h Ooievaarshof.