DERRY's Daniel Coyle led an Irish 1-2 in last night’s (Saturday) $72,000 two-star Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix at Tryon in North Carolina, USA.

Coyle partnered the Ariel Grange-owned mare Legacy to the fastest clear of the jump-off in 35.34 seconds.

Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney and the Irish Sport Horse Rocksy Music took the runner-up spot (36.02) ahead of Mark Bluman (COL) and Cartouche who took third place on the podium in a time of 36.37.

The Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) course saw 56 combinations contest the first round, with 15 going forward to the jump-off. “It was a very good course. It was challenging enough, and it wasn’t very simple,” Coyle detailed. “There were lots of places to make errors, and it was a good track. Although there were lots of clear rounds, it didn’t walk that way, and I didn’t think it would have that many.

“I watched the first few go in the jump-off, and I had already planned seven strides from one to two, which was far away and very big, but she has a very big stride,” Coyle said of the 2010 Zangersheide mare (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami). “You didn’t want to be too tight back to the liverpool, and then the last three jumps were really just off your eye, so it was the beginning of the course and the related distances where I probably made up the most time.”

Although Legacy is still green, Coyle shared that he has very high hopes for her and has been bringing her along to the higher levels this year. “This horse is very, very special and I think she’s a real contender for the Olympics next year. Ariel [Grange] and I made the decision a few years ago to buy her for the top, top level, and every time we ask her to do something, she proves herself. Next year we’re hoping is going to be a big year for her.”

Sixth place tie

Meanwhile at the Washington International Horse Show, Ireland's Capt Brian Cournane and Shane Sweetnam both shared sixth place in Saturday’s $136,300 Longines FEI World Cup. Cournane riding Armik and Sweetnam aboard Chaqui Z, both finished with one fence down in the first round and stopped the clock in exactly the same time of 59.34. Victory went to Laura Kraut (USA) with Fleurette.

Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release