Ireland dominates ‘Saturday Night Lights’
WELLINGTON — Ireland dominated the “Saturday Night Lights” main event at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Ireland show jumpers Darragh Kenny, Cian O'Connor and Jordan Coyle swept the top three places in the $385,000 Fidelity Investments CSI5 Grand Prix in the first of four five-star weeks at Wellington International.
Kenny, 36, and Amsterdam 27 won the six-rider jump-off, ending nearly a two-year drought of five-star grand prix wins for the Irish Olympian. Kenny and his 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding posted back-to-back clear rounds, including the fastest jump-off of 38.66 seconds to pocket $127,050, the largest payoff of the season so far.
O'Connor and new mount Maurice, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, were second in the jump-off in 39.36 seconds ($77,000).
Coyle and his 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, For Gold, were third in 39.69 ($57,750).
“It's a great result for all the Irish riders,” Kenny said. “I think we work very hard when we're here, and we try very hard to win always. Tonight really showed that we can do it when we need to. The competition is at the highest level that it's been in years and I think it's going to get hotter and hotter as the circuit goes on.”
Amsterdam, sidelined for a year nursing an injury, returned to the show ring stronger than ever. “The vets didn't really think he would make it back, but he came back to this level now and he's doing it better,” said Kenny, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian.
“He's an absolutely incredible horse and the most talented animal I've ever sat on,” Kenny said. “He's quality, scopey, smart and has the ability to win anything. I just have to stay out of his way and let him do his thing.”
Paris Olympics course designer Gregory Bodo designed ‘Saturday Night Lights’ course
The opening round course, featuring 13 jumping obstacles and 16 jumping efforts, was designed by Gregory Bodo of France, course designer for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this summer.
The technical, big course was a challenge for the field of 40 top riders, including Olympians Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach, Ben Maher of Great Britain, Nayel Nassar of Egypt, Daniel Bluman of Israel and McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y., all falling short of making the jump-off.
Bodo was making his U.S. and Wellington International debut as course designer.
“I think with my way of working, way of doing things, and with my ideas and philosophy, it brought something different to what you may be used to seeing here,” Bodo said. “I stayed faithful to my way of working and I think it was a good job. It's top-level here. I saw it on the first day that it's no different than in Europe. I think it's a place with horses that are ready and riders that are ready as well.”
On Sunday, British rider Grace Debney and Jesprit H.S. won the $62,500 FEI2 1st Racing Grand Prix with double clears and fastest jump-off of 37.77 seconds and won $20,625.
Kenny won the Martha Jolicoeur Leading International Rider Award. His groom and Amsterdam 27's caretaker, Kelsi Ciona, was presented with the $500 Grooms Award by Double H Farm.
WEF continues through March 31. This week's highlight is the Saturday Night Lights' $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular at 7 p.m., and Sunday's $140,000 KASK CSI3 Grand Prix at the Equestrian Village Derby Field at 9 a.m.