TEENAGER DUFFY NOTCHES UP TWO EARLY WINS AT FIVE STAR HAMBURG

NINETEEN year-old Galway native Michael Duffy has notched up two wins in the opening days of the five-star Global Champions Tour show in Hamburg, Germany.

Riding an Irish Sport Horse, Dermot Forde’s chestnut mare Westland Ruby, Duffy claimed first place in the Welcome Stakes on Wednesday, and repeated the formula on the same horse in today’s Derby Qualifier, adding 2,500 euro to his prize money with a comfortable 2.8 seconds in hand over British runner-up, the experienced John Whitaker, who was riding the Belgian-bred gelding Uni Stop.

In today’s Accumulator at Hamburg, Cameron Hanley and Caretina de Joter placed seventh, while Billy Twomey and Royale du Rouet finished in eighth place. The competition was won by Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano on Admara 2.

In Lisbon, Portugal, meanwhile, the Irish Army Equitation School’s Capt. Michael Kelly took a fourth place in the three-star opening competition on the Minister for Defence’s Irish Sport Horse Mullentine Loughgall. Michael G. Duffy from Mayo placed fifth in the same class aboard Dorthe Kristiansen’s nine year-old Eminent.

Michael Duffy and Westland Ruby (ISH) pictured at Hamburg. Photo: www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de

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)

Mullentine Loughgall (ISH) – 2005 bay gelding by Tlaloc M (SF) out of Crosskeys Cavalier (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Bred by George Allen, Co. Armagh. Owner: Capt. Eoghain Lavelle & Minister for Defence. Rider: Capt. Michael Kelly (IRL)