Five-star Mexican Grand Prix win for Ireland’s Darragh Kenny
Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny rode to a hard-fought victory in last night’s GNP Seguros five-star Grand Prix at Monterrey in Mexico. Kenny guided the 17-year-old stallion VDL Cartello (Cartani 4 x Lord) to a blistering time of 36.27.
The victory was a meaningful one for Kenny, but also an emotional moment for VDL Cartello’s connections
“He made so many of my dreams come true at high levels, so to win a five-star grand prix on him towards the end of his career is very cool,” said the World No. 22 rider, who plans to retire VDL Cartello in a few weeks at CHI Geneva. “He’s been an incredible horse for me, and honestly, it’s been nothing but fun.”
While VDL Cartello’s list of accomplishments is lengthy, a five-star Grand Prix win has eluded the stallion until now.
“Somehow we’ve always missed out on a five-star Grand Prix win, so I thought I’d risk everything [today] to see what could happen and I honestly have never gone this fast with him,” said Kenny of the horse that carried him to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Chasing Kenny in the six-horse jump-off, Emanuele Camilli (ITA) finished fractions off the pace in 36.27 seconds for the runner-up honor riding Odense Odeveld, Third place went to Sameh El Dahan (GBR) riding WKD Aimez Moi, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare sired by Je t’Aime Flamenco and owned by El Dahan together with Joanne Sloan-Allen.
Less than a second separated the top four with lead-off rider Christian Ahlmann (GER) finishing fourth on Dourkhan Hero Z in 36.89 seconds.
“I’ve always wanted to win this Grand Prix, and to be able to do it with this horse in this moment is pretty special,” concluded Kenny.
Coming off a Grand Prix win at MLSJ Tryon, Co Down’s Conor Swail produced consistent results again in Monterrey, including a top five finish in the GNP Seguros Grand Prix riding My Lady Lavista. The boost allowed him to take over the top spot on the individual MLSJ leaderboard with 63 points. He currently leads Kent Farrington (USA) by only three points with Kenny jumping into the top five to take over third on 42.
It was a hugely successful weekend for Irish riders in Monterrey, with Sligo’s Richard Howley and Zodiak du Buisson Z helping the Roadrunners team to victory in the Major League Show Jumping series. Howley also scored a win in the 1m45 ranking class with Mansini Ltd.
Closer to home, Irish riders filled three of the top four places in Sunday’s three-star Grand Prix at Vejer in Spain, including a win for Athlone’s Francis Derwin. Riding the 9-year-old mare Parvati Aeg, Derwin was the fastest clear in a 10-horse jump-off where he finished just over a second ahead of his Irish team mate, Tipperary’s Max Wachman who took second place with Fancy De Kergane. Kilkenny’s Seamus Hughes Kennedy filled fourth spot with the Irish-bred ESI Rocky (ISH).
BREEDING
WKD Aimez Moi (ISH) – 2010 mare by Je T’Aime Flamenco (BWP) out of My Honey Hill (ISH). Breeder: Joanne Sloan Allen, Co. Antrim. Owner: Joanne Sloan Allen & Sameh El Dahan. Rider: Sameh El Dahan (GBR).
ESI Rocky (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Stakkato Gold (HANN) out of Clonaslea (BWP) by For Pleasure (HANN) Breeder: Ennisnag Stud owned by Clare Hughes ridden by Seamus Hughes-Kennedy.