MORE FIVE-STAR GOLD FOR COYLE
Wachman on the mark at four-star level with new Lady
Jordan Coyle is on the crest of a wave at present and the US-based Derry native made the transatlantic dash to Hickstead pay off with another five-star victory to add to the list he has been accumulating in recent weeks, most notably at the Spruce Meadows summer series in Canada.
Coyle and For Gold (pictured above scoring at Spruce Meadows) were convincing winners of the two-phase class around Hickstead on Thursday, their speed clear of 26.64, well ahead of Robert Whitaker and Vermento, who stopped the clock on 28 flat.
Cian O’Connor was third with Belvedere and Sean Monaghan came home in fourth with the eight-year-old gelding, Tiberio Della Caccia, 24 hours before making his Nations Cup debut for the Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping Team.
For Gold won an incredible seven classes in Calgary and he can always be relied upon to empty the tank for the Ardmore athlete.
“I didn’t even think I was that fast – everything just came up in our stride,” said Coyle.
“He’s naturally fast, so I never have to go chasing him anyway, but it was just one of those rounds that everything just happens for you. Those don’t happen all the time!
“He’s got the most unbelievable heart. He wants to do it. He’s maybe not the most talented horse in the world, but by God, he wants to do it, and he loves to win as much as me.
“He’s an amazing horse. He’s just back from Spruce Meadows, and he was unbelievable there. He won seven classes at that show, and this is his first class back – he’s feeling pretty good, I’d say.”
Coyle concluded the five-star show at the famous arena with a podium finish in Sunday’s King George V Gold Cup, this time with Chaccolino.
Only four of the forty-six participants fulfilled the requirements to progress to a tie-breaker for the Grand Prix, though Cian O’Connor just missed out, leaving all the obstacles intact with Canbella Blue PS but just incurring one time fault, securing fifth as a result.
Victory went to home favourite Whitaker with Vermento, the duo stopping the clock on 38.88 to improve upon their finish behind Coyle and Thursday in definitive fashion, almost a second ahead of Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (UAE) in second, riding Enjoy de la Mure.
Coyle and Chaccolino ensured third with a foot-perfect round in 40.17.
On Saturday, Waterford pilot, Peter Moloney recorded a third-place finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, won by James Whitaker with Just Call Me Henry.
Tipperary rider, Max Wachman kicked off the Summer Showcase at Longines Tops International Arena, Valkenswaard in style, clinching victory in Thursday’s four-star speed class with an electrifying round aboard GRS Lady Amaro (above).
The mare, recently acquired by Coolmore Showjumping from Mark McAuley, was blisteringly quick in the 1.50m speed class, registering a time of 65.74 seconds – just enough to edge out Spain’s Julio Arias Cueva and Filou du Manoir, who finished a breath behind in 65.86 seconds.
“It’s been a fantastic first day at the Longines Tops International Arena,” said Wachman. “Lady Amaro was flying on the grass arena and of course, it’s always a good way to start the weekend with a win.”
At another five-star show in Dinard, another equestrian from the Premier County, Denis Lynch was third in the Prix Cordon Group to the outstanding pair of Henrik Von Eckermann and Glamour Girl. With his progressive ten-year-old stallion King Blue, Lynch made the podium in the 1.45m speed event with a clear round in 65.16 seconds, , just over eight-tenths of a second off the standard-setters.
A notable result for Daniel Coyle was the fourth place finish of Daydream, stepping up to elite company for the first time this week and doing so effortlessly, going clear in 62.72 in a 1.50m speed class behind Germany’s winner Richard Vogel, with Cubi Cubells, with French duo, Julien Epaillard and Rogers Yves Bost just ahead.
Darragh Kenny was second in the three-star 1.50m Grand Parix at Traverse City. One of only two double clears with Amsterdam 27, their time of 37.67 was competitive but not enough to deny Callie Schott (USA), who was more than a second faster with Garant.
Kenny picked up some consolation 24 hours later when winning the Traverse City National Grand Prix with Colibelle Hero Z.
Millstreet played host to some excellent two-star fare and on Friday, Susan Fitzpatrick won the Connolly’s Red Mills Millstreet Masters GP Qualifier with Keatingstown Mister Cool.
The nine-year-old gelding was fast and clean in the jump-off, navigating the 1.45m course in 42.50 second time around, almost a half-second quicker than Mikey Pender with the Marion Hughes-bred HHS Fortune (ISH), with Stephen Gibbons and Cassius Z taking third.
Pender had to settle for the bridesmaid’s role in Sunday’s Grand Prix also, riding Madgeslane Louis, which the Kildare man bred and owns in partnership with his mother AnnMarie.
Although they went clear in a jump-off in 42.42, they could not hold Senan Reape at bay on the admirable 15-year-old Creevagh Special, owned by the rider’s father, Jonathan.
Reape, from Sligo, had posted the quickest time when going clear in the first round so it didn’t come as a surprise that when the stopwatch was an imperative, they would do the business, going clear in 41.72.
Waterford legend, Francis Connors was third on Carrigshawn Vendi Royal (ISH).
In Ocala, Limerick rider, Paul O’Shea took the two-star Grand Prix with Hellcat, the pair having more than a second in hand on to score.
BREEDING
GRS LADY AMARO (ISH) – 2013 mare by Amaretto Darco (BWP) out of Legal Lady (TB) by Over The River (TB). Breeder: Denis Hickey, Co. Wexford. Owner: S.n.c McAuley. Rider: Max Wachman (IRL).
HHS FORTUNE (ISH) – 2011 mare by Catoki (HOLST) out of HHS Daisy (ISH) by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN). Breeder and owner: Marion Hughes, Co. Kilkenny. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL) / Molly Hughes Bravo (POR).
MADGESLANE LOUIS (ISH)– 2017 ch gelding by Luidam (KWPN) out of Madges Lane Karol (ISH) by Obos Quality 004 (OLDBG). Breeder: Michael Pender: Owner: AnnMarie & Michael Pender. Rider: Michael Pender
CARRIGSHAWN VENDI ROYAL (ISH) – 2015 b/br mare by Dondoctrol Ryal K (KWPN) out of Carrigshawn Vendi (ISH) by ARS Vivendi (HOLST). Breeder: Jack Warner. Owner: Francis, Jenny & Kate Connors. Rider: Francis Connors (IRL)
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