WHILE the majority of international competition on mainland Europe is suspended because of the Equine Herpes Virus outbreak, show jumping fans were once again treated to an epic five-star Grand Prix showdown under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre in Wellington, Florida, USA.

The feature class of week nine, the $401,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, was the third five-star Grand Prix to take place at the venue in 2020, and in keeping with tradition, there was once again an Irish rider on the podium.

Co Meath’s Cian O’Connor guided the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny into third place on his five-star debut. It was O’Connor’s close friend, Egyptian rider Abdel Saïd, who took the top spot after an exciting jump-off, just ahead of in-form German Daniel Deusser.

Ireland’s Alan Wade was on course building duty and a field of 39 starters took on his 1.60m track, with nine jumping clear to qualify for the jump-off, including four Irish riders – O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam, Captain Brian Cournane and Bertram Allen.

Former Irish show jumping chef d’equipe, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa set the pace early as the first to return aboard Carlito’s Way 6 owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm, LLC, with a clear jumping effort in a time of 41.45 seconds. Their pace was fast, but the door was left open and those who followed found a way in.

Fourth to return in the jump-off, O’Connor and Kilkenny flew around the shortened track, electing to leave a stride out down the final line and the risk paid off as they moved into the lead with a clear round in 39.09 seconds.

Into the lead

Next to go, Saïd piloted his 10-year-old Selle Français gelding Bandit Savoie (Qlassic Bois Margot x Falmera) around the track effortlessly, opting to make up the time through the turns, moving swiftly across the ground in nine strides to the final fence to take over the lead in 38.70 seconds.

It was the pair following Saïd that kept everyone on the edge of their seats as the quick combination of Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM gave it their best effort. Deusser, ranked third in the world, guided the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Eldorado Vd Zeshoek x Derly Chin De Muze) owned by Stephex Stables to a brilliant clear, stopping the clock just one-hundredth of a second off the leading time in 38.71 seconds.

USA’s Adreinne Sternlicht placed fourth with Cristalline, ahead of Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam in fifth place with Karlin van’t Vennehof (Fantomas De Muze X Quasimodo Vd Molendreef). The pair, who jumped double clear in the Nations Cup last week, were double clear in 39.83 seconds.

Captain Brian Cournane faulted once against the clock aboard his own and Bob Stiller’s Armik (Armitage x Justinian xx) in a time of 41.17, to finished seventh, while Bertram Allen and his week seven winner, Amiro Pacino, were eliminated in the jump-off.

In the end, it was Saïd who prevailed to take the victory on the talented gelding he purchased in September from the number one ranked rider in the world, Steve Guerdat. It was a historic night for as his victory marked the first time an Egyptian rider has won a five-star Grand Prix in the history of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

“He is a feisty little horse who is definitely a trier,” said Saïd. “I love the fire he has in him. It was causing us to have some rails at the past few shows because I didn’t really know him, but I sold my two main Grand Prix horses earlier in the circuit, so he had to really step up. “I’m really, really proud,” he added.

Lucky

O’Connor was over the moon with Kilkenny’s performance, having finished fifth in the qualifier two days earlier at his first five-star show. Bred by the late Ita Brennan, Kilkenny (formally named MHS Fernhill) is by Cardento out of the Guidam-sired MHS Pembrook Lady, who is a daughter of the renowned broodmare Gowran Lady (Cavalier Royale). He was owned by Carol Gee and produced by Sophie Richards and Duarte Seabra before O’Connor bought him last September.

“Kilkenny really is an incredible athlete. I feel so lucky to have found him and everything is so effortless for him,” he told The Irish Field on Monday morning.

“I only got him last September when he was eight years old. It was really a night of firsts for me; first time under the lights, first time [in a] five star, first time jumping water in the big competition, so I didn’t really know what to expect. When I walked the course, I thought it was a very difficult test. The verticals were very tall. I must say the course was nice.

“This time of year, we’re all just getting up and running and the combinations were fair and Alan [Wade] did a super job with the course. I’m just thrilled with the horse. He was only half a second off my good friend [Abdel] here, so we’re really, really pleased.

“I couldn’t be happier.”

What is the plan going forward? “He has 10 days off now and then will jump the final five-star on the grass here. After that, the plan is to return home where all the horses will rest for six weeks.”

Asked how his top horse, PSG Final, is recovering after an small injury which kept him out of action for the majority of the circuit, O’Connor said: “PSG is in great shape and back in full work so will be ready to start showing together with the other horses in May.

“He is the most experienced horse I have and proven at the highest level. I’d be confident that he’d be my Olympic hopeful this time around.”

High alert

O’Connor and his fellow competitors are thankful to be able to continue jumping despite the challenges of navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent outbreak of the EHV-1 virus in Europe.

“We are blessed. The horse show here at WEF does a super job with the Covid-19 protocols and to be able to jump at such a high level and be up and running so early on, we feel privileged.

“It’s a huge advantage for us because other people aren’t jumping, things are cancelled and so on. It’s awful with this [EHV] virus in Europe as well, so we think about everyone who has been affected by that.

“After learning the seriousness of the disease from the European cases I think everyone here is on high alert which is vital. So far, no cases in Wellington and please God it can all be contained in Europe by the stopping of shows which hopefully means people won’t move horses. There is much discussion re vaccination and its merits, etc., but we have vaccinated and will continue to do so as any form of protection from this awful virus is worth having.”

Irishman and Equestrian Sport Productions President Michael Stone was awarded the Wellington Equestrian Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the past year to make horse shows possible at PBIEC.