THREE-time Olympian Cian O’Connor finished seventh individually at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Kilkenny (Cardento x Guidam) on Wednesday, nine years after winning the bronze medal in London.

It has been a quick rise to the top for Kilkenny, who is owned by Sue Magnier from Coolmore Stud, and was bred by Sinead Brennan at Mill House Stud in Co Kilkenny out of MHS Pembrook Lady.

Purchased by O’Connor late last year from Carol Gee of Fernhill Sporthorses, he shot to stardom in early 2021 with a third place finish in a five-star Grand Prix in Florida – the only time he jumped under lights at a venue before Tokyo - and suddenly came into Olympic contention.

Michael Blake’s faith in the combination paid off on Wednesday when, sixth into the area for the individual final, over the huge 1.65m track designed by Santiago Varela, O’Connor gave a masterclass of riding to guide the inexperienced Irish-bred around the biggest course he would have seen to date to just pick up a single time fault.

A time 88.45 seconds, 0.45 over the time allowed of 88 seconds, ultimately kept him out of the jump-off and out of reach of a medal. Six combinations went on to jump clear, with the gold medal eventually going to Britain’s Ben Maher and Explosion W.

“I couldn’t be happier with him,” said O’Connor. “To finish seventh at the Olympic Games for such a young and inexperienced horse, I’m very happy.”

However, when jumping the final few jumps, Kilkenny sustained a nose bleed and, despite recovering well, O’Connor decided not to go any further in the Games, meaning the alternate rider, Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro, would step in for the team competition.

A man for the big day with a team medal to the forefront of his mind coming into the Games, O’Connor was disappointed not to be progressing any further in the competition, but looks forward to the future with Kilkenny.

Well-being

“I’ve decided not to put Kilkenny forward for the team competition as his well-being comes first and I’ve no doubt we will have much success together in the future. I’ll be here on the ground to help my team mates win a medal,” O’Connor commented.

Irish team vet Marcus Swail confirmed the horse had recovered well. “Kilkenny jumped outstanding again today for Cian. Unfortunately he sustained a nose bleed towards the end of his round. He recovered quickly and all vitals were normal. He was subject to further examination at the on-site veterinary clinic and the horse is now comfortable and back in his stable.”

An official statement from FEI Olympic director Catrin Norinder confirmed Kilkenny had a nose bleed (epistaxis) during the round.

Future

The last Irish Sport Horse to finish inside the top 10 at an Olympic Games was Flexible (Cruising x Safari xx), eighth in London in 2012 with USA’s Rich Fellers. Before that was Kevin Babington’s Carling King (Clover Hill x Chair Lift) and Robert Smith’s Mr Springfield (Western Promise x Ballinahow Boy) in Athens 2004 where they were joint-fourth.

Speaking to The Irish Field on Friday morning from Tokyo, O’Connor said the gelding is in great form and “bright as a button”. Asked about future plans, he said: “The priority first is to get him home safely and it was always my idea to give him a good rest and turn him out to grass following the Olympics given he’s had such an incredible year.

“I’ll chat with Sue [Magnier] over the coming weeks and together we’ll come up with his competition plan.”

O’Connor thanked him team at Karlswood, with a special mention for Ross Mulholland and Kilkenny’s groom Johanna Berg, and his wife Ruth, all of whom were in Tokyo.