DERRY’S Daniel Coyle made a stunning start on the opening day of the five-star Spruce Meadows show in Canada in the early hours of this morning (Thursday), scoring two wins including the feature 1.55m Bantrel Cup.

Sixteen of the 42 starters made it into the jump-off in the $86,000 Bantrel Cup, including Coyle with the 11-year-old mare Cita, who is owned by Susan and Ariel Grange. World number one Kent Farrington (USA) set the early pace with an impressive clear (38.73) against the clock with the 11-year-old gelding Sherkan Dumaury.

However 23-year-old Coyle sliced half-a-second off Farrington’s time after a stunning round (38.27) with Cita which included a daring gallop to the last fence.

Coyle, who jumped a double clear round for Ireland in last week’s Canadian Nations Cup at Langley, said: “Cita is incredibly careful. She jumped the last Grand Prix in Wellington [Florida] – she was double clear and she hasn’t knocked a fence since.

“She’s jumped maybe 10 international classes from 1.45m up and hasn’t knocked a fence. So I know if she knocks one it isn’t intentional so if I can ride her correctly – she usually won’t make a mistake. I knew I had a really good chance.”

Farrington and Sherkan Dumaury finished as runners-up while the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Sumas Zorro finished third with Egyptian rider Sameh El Dahan. Sumas Zorro was bred in Kilkenny by Susan Lanigan-O’Keeffe, and speaking afterwards El Dahan was full of praise for the Irish-bred mare.

“I think Zorro felt amazing! The first round was just a piece of cake for her – she rolled down to the jumps like it was nothing and then in the jump off she felt amazing. I tried to be as fast as I could and I felt she was fast enough – I think a maybe lost that little bit of time on the turn back to fence six of the jump off, the Bantrel oxer, but other than that she was really spectacular.”

Daniel Coyle scored another win in the 1.45m Recon Metal Cup, this time with Fortis Fortuna who is also owned by Susan and Ariel Grange. They crossed the line clear in 66.88 second in the one round speed class where the course was set by Irish course designer Tom Holden.

Coyle had a full three seconds to spare over Mexican runner-up Luis Alejandro Plascencia riding Charatinus. Margie Engle (USA) finished third with Dicas, while the Irish Sport Horse Lux Lady came home in fourth with American Rich Fellers.

ISH Breeding

Suma’s Zorro (ISH) – 2004 chestnut mare by Ard VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Vixens Frolic (ISH), by Horos (TB). Bred by Susan Lanigan-O’Keeffe, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Joanne Sloan-Allen & Sameh El Dahan. Rider: Sameh El Dahan (EGY)

Lux Lady (ISH) – 2005 mare by Lux Z (HANN) out of Shania (ISH), by Master Imp (TB). Bred by Joe O’Flaherty, Co. Longford. Owner Harrie & Molly Chapman. Rider: Rich Fellers (USA)