This is a subscriber-only article
It looks like you're browsing in private mode
IRISH team show jumper Darragh Kenny has been ruled out of this month’s World Equestrian Games after his mount, Babalou 41, underwent a colic operation last week.
Kenny had been selected on Jack Synder’s 13-year-old chesnut mare by Balou du Rouet after a brilliant fourth place finish in the €1 million Rolex Grand Slam Grand Prix in Aachen in July.
Confirming the news to The Irish Field, team manager Rodrigo Pessoa said: “Unfortunately she (Babalou 41) had colic surgery on Friday so we won’t be able be count on her. It’s a big loss because he’s obviously a really good jockey and the mare has the mileage. It’s a loss for us but thank god we have a bit of depth and more riders and horses that have the experience to go at this level.”
Kenny reported this morning that Babalou is doing well following the surgery and wished his teammates the best of luck at the Games.
BREEN CALLED UP
Kenny has been replaced on the team by Shane Breen and Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker, winners of the 1.60m Monaco Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in July.
23-year-old Michael Duffy has been called up as the travelling reserve for the Irish show jumping team with EFS Top Contender. A regular at underage championships, Tryon will be Duffy’s first senior championship. He was recently part of the winning Division 1 team at Hickstead.
Pessoa said: "Shane Breen comes into the team with Ipswich. They have been in really good form this year, winning the five-star Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Monaco and were fourth very recently in a five-star Grand Prix at Valence in France. Shane is a very experienced rider and will be a valuable member of the team.
“We have chosen Michael Duffy as fifth man with EFS Top Contender. They were on the Nations Cup team in Gijon this weekend, jumping double clear with just a time fault and we feel Michael is a very valid fifth member of the squad. He will also be a key man on the ground which is very important for the stability of the group.”
Looking ahead to the start of competition, Pessoa is focused on the job at hand: “We are going to Tryon with the clear objective of punching our ticket to Tokyo and the Olympic team qualification which has eluded us for many years. Now that we are European Champions, why not dream big and aim for a medal as well. We are really looking forward to a tough competition but we believe we have a great chance.”
The Irish show jumping horses depart Liege, Belgium, for Tryon on Wednesday, September 12th.
SHARING OPTIONS: