Derwin preaches Gospel in Ocala
Lynch goes close in Leipzig five-star
Francis Derwin converted the previous week’s consistency into a victory in Ocala on Saturday morning, while there were runner-up finishes at five-star level for Denis Lynch at Leipzig, and in three-stars, for Philip McGuane and Bertram Allen.
Derwin has been tasked with overseeing a group of young horses in Florida from Cian O’Connor’s Meath base at Karlswood Stables, and got off to an excellent start in the opening week with a couple of podiums and some other good results.
O’Connor is sure to be pleased with the young Athlone athlete’s endeavours to date as he bagged his first win of the World Equestrian Center series on with Gospel Tame in a two-star Grand Prix Qualifier in Florida.
A field of 52 participated and nine made the jump-off. This cohort included Daniel Coyle with Montevideo Vdl but they had 12 faults in the tiebreaker and had to settle for ninth.
Derwin and his 10-year-old partner (below) were far too hot for even those that did post double clears, leaving all the rails intact in a time of 37.72 that was more than a second a three-quarters clear of runner-up Hunter Holloway (USA), with Koblenz.
“Gospel is 10 years old now. He’s been produced very well. Cian has had him since he was five,” said Derwin.
“I am very happy to have a great team of horses here. Thanks to Cian for trusting me with them. I am here for the whole circuit and have 10 horses here.
“I came last winter to watch for just that night, and when Ciansuggested coming here next winter, I straight away said yes. It’s an unbelievable place to be. I just think the place itself is unbelievable. There’s no place else in the world like it. I’ve never seen anything else, and it’s a great place for the horses.”
The five-star competition took place in Leipzig and Denis Lynch got it off to a very nice start with a silver medal in the opening international competition, a 1.45m speed class.
The Tipperary pilot combined with what he hopes is the appropriately named Zensation 2, and certainly the 10-year-old showed plenty of ability when scooting over the 14-jump course in 57.50 seconds.
The effort could be upgraded for the fact that the pair were just fourth of 53 into the arena.
Yet only one combination could improve upon that mark, and it was the home supporters celebrating when Germany’s Marvin Jüngel, with another grey, the 11-year-old Helene 50, stopped the clock in 57 seconds flat to take the spoils.
On Saturday, Lynch and Chicago, another 10-year-old, lodged a lovely double clear to be sixth in the 1.55m jump-off class. Lynch was clearly intent on not asking his partner for too much in the decider, but another clear in a sedate 32.74 seconds undoubtedly left horse and rider feeling good about themselves.
Victory went to Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and the outstanding Is-Minnka, who clocked 36.13 to win by almost two and a half seconds from German Gerrit Nieberg, with IB Queen.
The second week of Wellington’s Winter Equestrian Festival had a strong Irish representation and Philip McGuane recorded the best result when runner-up in the Southern Arches Grand Prix late on Sunday night with Paso Doble SCF.
The Corofin native and his 11-year-old mare (below) were among nine combinations to advance to the jump-off with clear rounds. A third of that group came a cropper second time around and victory in the $140,000 feature went to Americn Peter Lutz and Katriona.
They set a blinding target of 43.69 that was beyond everyone but McGuane and Paso Doble were best of the rest with a foot-perfect outing in a time of 45.13 to claim a significant share of the prize money.
Bertram Allen was second in Saturday’s Hermès Classic on the grass at the three-star show.
The Wexford Olympian registered an excellent double clear in the Equestrian Village Derby Field with Zero K to split Luis Fernando Larrazabal (COL), with Ribery, and Britain’s Ben Maher, with Ginger Blue.
Allen and his 12-year-old mare (below) stopped the clock in 39.43 in the jump-off, just over three-quarters of a second of the winning tie.
Cian O’Connor and Ulysses also posted a double clear to be fifth, just ahead of former Ireland chef d’équipe, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), with Giorgio D’Ellipse.
In the two-star competition in Vejer de la Frontera, Inistioge pilot, Jack Ryan was third in a 1.45m speed class on Friday with the Irish Sport Horse DSH Lucky Junior, who is owned and was bred by his uncle, Seamus Drea in Co Kilkenny.
On Saturday in Oliva, Cratloe native, Eoin McMahon matched Ryan’s podium result in a two-star 1.45m jump-off class, steering Disney Z to third and the duo would finish the week with a fifth-place finish via another double clear in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
BREEDING
DSH LUCKY JUNIOR (ISH) – 2016 grey gelding by Bbs McGregor (ISH) out of Dahlyi (ISH) by Luidam (KWPN). Breeder and Owner: Seamus Drea, Co Kilkenny. Rider: Jack Ryan (IRL)
The post Derwin preaches Gospel in Ocala appeared first on .