JORDAN Coyle began his week in Dublin on a positive note, winning the first international class on Wednesday, the Heathman Farm 1.45m Speed Stakes aboard Millview Cicero (CiceroZ Van Paemel x Oklund). Bred by Harry Marshall, the 11-year-old is owned by Dermott Lennon.

From a starting field of 42, some 28 delivered a clear round. Coyle was fastest of these in a time of 52.70 for the win.

Speaking after the class, Coyle said: “To win anything here is good and to be fair, it’s only my third time ever riding the horse. He belongs to a very good friend of mine, Dermott Lennon, and he’s done all the work with him, so maybe I stole all the glory today.

“Me and Dermott have been friends now for a few years. He came and spent a year with me and it changed everything. I learned an unbelievable amount of stuff from him.”

Briton Adrian Whiteway was runner-up with the stallion I Am Harley (Harley x Otangelo) in 54.40. Ireland’s Susan Fitzpatrick and Lovely Stassi were third in 54.76, while Mikey Pender and HHS Cyprus took fourth.

Commandant Geoff Curran and DHF Alliance were fifth and Jason Foley and MBF Be Blue finished in sixth.

Good Fortune

Mikey Pender also featured on day one, winning the Minerva Stakes 1.45m speed with HHS Fortune in a time of 51.23. Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer and Joan were second in 52.16, while Trevor Breen and Conrad Obolensky were third in 53.74.

Denis Lynch and Kaatja took fourth, Comdt. Geoff Curran and Tempo Manor fifth. Germany’s Richard Vogel with Event De L’Heribus were sixth.

It was almost an Irish clean sweep on Wednesday but for European Champion Richard Vogel’s win in the final class of the day, the Sport Ireland Classic 1.55m speed. Riding the stallion Phenyo Van Het Keysersbos, Vogel set the pace early on as ninth to go, stopping the clock at 67.57.

Mikey Pender was runner-up with HHS Los Angeles (67.88), while Rodrigo Pessoa and Dhalida took third in 69.70. American McLain Ward and Callas slotted into fourth in 69.94. Kevin Jochems on Prada Di Costi M were fifth for Holland, while Cian O’Connor and Gengis Kann de Londe were sixth.