MEATH’ Nicky Galligan led the victory lap in the four-star $75,000 Grand Prix qualifier at the prestigious four-star Hampton Classic Horse Show in America, with the Irish Sport Horse mare Javas Miss Jordan.
One of 25 starters, the combination was fastest of just four double clears over the Alan Wade-designed course, crossing the line in 31.32. The pair was just fractions ahead of USA’s Schuyler Riley and Robin de Ponthual, who clocked 31.83.
Produced by Galligan in Ireland through the ISH Studbook Classes, the 12 -year-old mare was bred by Judy Murphy and is by Luidam and out of the OBOS Quality 004-sired Alley Angel.
Speaking afterwards Galligan said: “I’m very proud to be here at such a prestigious show like this, I have to give a special mention to the horse show committee for working tirelessly to get us into this ring today, and I have to compliment how well it rode.
“My horse is a very special horse to me and my family. She’s the reason I’m in the States. I came over as a boy with a dream to ride in the top level of the sport, and we’ve owned her since she was four years old. It’s incredibly exciting to produce her all the way through and have results like this in an esteemed company. These were all people that I looked up to and aspired to be like as a child, so it’s an honour to compete with them and especially to have a win.
“Our intention was to go out and be competitive today, but not leave it all out there because we still have one eye on Sunday,” Galligan added.
O’Shea fifth in Grand Prix
On Sunday, Limerick’s Paul O’Shea finished fifth in the $300,000 Longines Grand Prix aboard the 14-year-old Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, when fastest of the four faulters. In what was a top-class line-up, 21 combinations took up the challenge over the 1.60m course and just seven of those booked the place in the jump-off.
O’Shea proved that he could beat the target time of 34.75 set by Israel’s Daniel Bluman and Gemma W, but the four faults would see him finish down the line. Tokyo Olympic silver medallists McLain Ward and Contagious took second, clear in 36.79, ahead of USA’s Schuyler Riley and Robin de Ponthual, clear in 37.42
Jonathan Corrigan took third place in the Hampton Classic’s $37,000 1.50m. Corrigan had the difficult task of going first with Andrea Vogel’s Fair Play and put it up to the rest as he clocked 59 seconds. Despite a great round, his lead held only temporarily as McLain Ward and the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare Blossom Z shaved over a full second off Jonathan Corrigan’s time when stopping the clock in 57.41.
Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) was the only other rider to beat Corrigan’s round, stopping the clock in 58.40 seconds aboard Lafayette Van Overis, a horse previously ridden by Bertram Allen, to finish second.