McEvoy and Pender add to Irish wins at the RDS as Britain’s Proudley wins Puissance
Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy secured Ireland’s sixth international win of the 2025 Dublin Horse Show on Saturday, as she claimed victory in the Dublin Stakes with Flora du Mesnil. Seven riders made it through to the jump-off where McEvoy’s guided the 10-year-old mare to the winning clear in 35.75 seconds. Dutch rider Willem Greve took runner-up spot with Pretty Woman Van’T Paradijs (37.08) just ahead of Jason Smith (SUI) in third with Picobello Van’T Roosakker (37.19).
Earlier Kildare’s Mikey Pender and HHS Fortune (ISH) recorded their second win of the week at the Dublin Horse Show, after they came out on top in the Royal Dublin Society Stakes. A clear in 56.01 seconds saw them edge Germany’s Richard Vogel and Phenyo Van Het Keysersbos (56.35) who finished second, while third place went to Britain’s Matt Sampson and Fabrice DN (56.47). On Wednesday, Mikey Pender and HHS Fortune took victory in the Minerva Stakes at the RDS.
Saturday evening’s Defender Puissance saw Britain’s Rachel Proudley and the 11-year-old gelding Easy Boy de Laubry Zemerge as winners. They were the only combination to clear the wall in the fourth round at it’s final height of 2.15m.
Waterford’s Paddy O’Donnell and the Nigel Jackson-bred Kilcorig Elysium (ISH) would finish as runners-up after jumping the wall clear over three rounds before withdrawing for the final round. O’Donnell and the versatile Kilcorig Elysium (ISH) recorded a top-10 finish in the Hickstead Derby earlier this year.
The Dublin Horse Show comes to a close on Sunday with the feature Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland attracting a top class field of 40 horses and riders.
BREEDING
HHS Fortune (ISH) 2011 mare by Catoki (HOLST) out of HHS Daisy (ISH) by Ard Vdl Douglas (KWPN) bred and owned by Marion Hughes and ridden by Michael Pender.
Kilcorig Elysium (ISH) 2015, gelding by Cornet Obolensky, damsire, Camiro de Haar Z, bred by Nigel Jackson and ridden by Paddy O’Donnell