SPRINGSTEEN LEADS AMERICAN RESURGENCE AT DUBLIN HORSE SHOW

ROCK idol Bruce Springsteen was on hand this evening (Thursday) to watch his daughter Jessica score her first victory in Ireland when she collected an 8,000 euro prize for a first place in the two-round Anglesea Stakes, the last competition of the day at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Looking on from his grandstand table, the proud father cheered as 22 year-old Jessica outpaced a 52-strong international field in the final round with Stone Hill Farm’s 11 year-old mare Davendy S, stopping the clock a fraction of a second faster than the world’s No. 3 rider, Britain’s Ben Maher.

The Springsteen win signalled a recovery by American riders in the international classes at Dublin, with Chicago-born Kent Farrington also in the laurels today, taking first with Blue Angel in the earlier Speed Stakes and beating Irish star Conor Swail and Lansdowne by almost one and a half seconds.

However, Ireland asserted its strength in the first international class of the day, the Speed Derby, with four of the top five places being filled by green jackets. The winning combination was Galway’s 19 year-old Michael Duffy and the irish Sport Horse Westland Ruby, while second place went to Mayo’s Cameron Hanley and Newton du Haut Bois. Third place also went to an Irish Sport Horse, the 17 year-old veteran Mo Chroi, ridden by Capt. Michael Kelly, while Conor Swail took fifth with the stallion Grafton.

Friday’s Aga Khan Trophy competition starts at 3pm, with Ireland second to jump of eight teams competing for vital points in the concluding leg of the 2014 Nations’ Cup series.

Winners Jessica Springsteen and Ireland’s Michael Duffy

BREEDING
•Westland Ruby (ISH) – 2004 chestnut mare by Aldato (KWPN) out of Diamond Explosion (ISH), by King Of Diamonds (ID). Owner/Bred by Dermot Forde, Co. Cavan. Rider: Michael Duffy (IRL)
•Mo Chroi (ISH) – 1997 grey mare by Cruising (ISH) out of Into The Blue (ISH), by Mister Lord (TB). Bred by Claire McDonnell, Co. Wicklow. Owner: Minister for Defence. Rider: Capt. Michael Kelly (IRL)