Pender and Trunkfield share Puissance honours at the RDS as Commandant Curran wins Dublin Stakes

Ireland’s Mikey Pender and Hearton du Bois Halleux in action during the Defender Puissance at the RDS (Photo: Pam Cunningham)

Ireland’s Mikey Pender riding Hearton du Bois Halleux and Britain’s Joseph Trunkfield with Cruze, shared victory in the Defender Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show, after both riders made it all the way to the fifth round where the big red wall reached a height of 2m20 (7ft.2).

Pender and Trunkfield had cleared the huge wall in the fourth round when it stood at 2m15 (7ft), before they picked up four faults apiece in the final round to share the winners prize. Britain’s Elliot Smith finished third with Flamboyant III.

Mikey Pender also featured in the prizes in the earlier 1m50 Dublin Stakes taking second place after a brilliant round aboard the Marion Hughes-bred HHS Cornetta (ISH). Pender took the lead with a second round clear in 36.08 seconds which looked like it could give the Castledermot native victory. However the in-form McLain Ward (USA) snatched the win after guiding Contagious to a clear in 36.08. Athlone’s Francis Derwin and the Knightfield Stud-bred Flexi K finished fifth with one fence down against the clock.

Commandant Geoff Curran and DHF Alliance (ISH) (Photo: Pam Cunningham)

The day began with an Irish victory, after Commandant Geoff Curran and the Irish-bred DHF Alliance (ISH) proved unbeatable in the Royal Dublin Society Stakes. The Co Waterford army rider scorched around the Ballsbridge arena in 57.49 seconds, and that saw him them edge fellow Irishman Daniel Coyle and Lena VDL who finished as runners-up in 57.93. Third place went to Germany’s Daniel Deusser with Bingo STE Hermelle.

The 2024 Dublin Horse Show comes to a close on Sunday, with the feature Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland offering a lucrative prize fund of €500,000.

BREEDING

HHS Cornetta (ISH) – Mare by Cornet Obolensky (BWP) out of HHS Acorado (ISH) by Acorado (HOLST). Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender. Breeder: Marion Hughes.

Flexi K (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Flex A Bill (ISH)[TIH] out of Deeply Dippy K (ISH) by Luidam (KWPN). Breeder: Knightfield Stud, Co. Kildare.

DHF Alliance (ISH) 2015, Mare by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Rosie Bee (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann). Bred by Paul Douglas, Co. Tyrone.

Owned by Jessica Stallard & Minister for Defence. Ridden by Commdt. Geoff Curran (IRL).