Aga Khan runner-up finish for Ireland as USA claim victory

Photo: Mark McAuley and the Irish-bred GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) delivered a first round clear as Ireland finished as runners-up in the Aga Khan

For the second year in-a-row, the Irish Show Jumping team have finished as runners-up in the Nations Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show, where the USA lifted the famous trophy for the eighth time in history.

This year’s Aga Khan attracted one of the strongest fields in recent years, and in fact, all of the first six combinations jumped clear, including Offaly’s Darragh Kenny who was first of the Irish to jump with the 17-year-old grey stallion VDL Cartello. Co Louth’s Mark McAuley and the Denis Hickey-bred GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) then delivered another perfect clear for the home team and that was followed by another flawless performance from Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Vistogrand. Anchor rider Cian O’Connor and Fancy De Kergane finished with one fence down and a time fault, however with three first round clears already on the board, Ireland could discard O’Connor’s score and remain on zero. Michael Blake’s team would share the lead with the USA at the halfway stage and they both had a two fence advantage over Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium and The Netherlands heading into round two.

SECOND ROUND

Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello had one fence down for Ireland at the start of the second round, and the advantage tipped in USA’s favour when Spenser Smith completed a double clear performance with Keeneland. Mark McAuley and GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) were clear until the last line, but the last two fences fell to leave them on 8 faults. Ireland’s third rider, Denis Lynch came home with one fence down second time out and that left Ireland tied with Belgium and Switzerland on 8 faults heading into the last line riders, while USA held the lead on four faults.

Cian O’Connor put the pressure back on the USA when he delivered a vital clear as last to go with Fancy De Kergane. That meant USA’s final rider McLain Ward needed to jump clear for victory, with Ward showing all his experience to produce a flawless round and give the American’s a famous win on a final score of 4 faults and their first Aga Khan win since 2017. Ireland took runner-up spot on eight faults, while Britain fought back in the second round to take third place on 12 faults.

Irish riders dominated the earlier International 7&8 year-old competition in the RDS main arena which was won by Limerick’s Kian Dore with the 7-year-od gelding Helssinki (Calcaro x Bambina). Irish riders filled all of the top four places with Cork’s Shane Dalton taking runner-up spot with Mendoza VDL. Co Down’s Dermott Lennon and Kinmar Right On Time (ISH) finished third ahead of Meath’s Cian O’Connor in fourth with Maple Leaf.

The Dublin Horse Show continues over the weekend with the Defender Puissance the feature on Saturday as horses and riders jump the big red wall. Sunday’s curtain-closing Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland offers a lucrative prize fund of €500,000.

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: Mark McAuley (IRL).