Darragh Kenny bags big prize
Offaly's Darragh Kenny bagged a five-star prize at Wellington International in the early hours of Friday morning Irish time in the US, navigating Oakland Stables newcomer Zero K around the challenging course set without blemish on two occasions, stopping the clock on 34.86 seconds in the jump-off to enter the winner's circle.
The 11-year-old mare was careful first time around, but with Kenny offering expert guidance, put on the after-burners in the jump-off, leaving a high-class opposition for dust in a scintillating display to earn a cheque for $38,313.
They were 1.21 seconds faster than Israel’s runner-up Daniel Bluman on Gemma W, with Spencer Smith (USA) third on Keeneland.
“I’ve been getting to know the mare a lot better through circuit because I only got her to one show before,” Kenny revealed afterwards,
“The first rounds have been pretty good, jump-offs haven’t been perfect. I knew it was going to be very fast today, and she has a big stride, so a lot of the lines were connected. I could use her big stride and hopefully not make mistakes.
“She’s very sensitive. She’s special in her own way, but in the ring, she wants to do her best. Sometimes she tries too hard, but it’s always in the right way, and that’s what I really like about her. She’s a little tense sometimes but for the most part she’s just misunderstood. She wants to be the best she can be.
“I was really nervous doing the six one to two because I was a long way away. These classes are so competitive. There are so many brilliant riders. One day it’s me, next day it’s Kent (Farrington), next day it’s Richard Vogel, Henrik Von Eckermann, McLain Ward. That’s just how competitive this circuit is here.
“I’ve been a little late to the party this season,” Kenny concluded of his form. “I’ve taken my time and not rushed any of the horses and put their health before everything. It’s starting to show. Eddy Blue was super the other week in the grand prix, and this horse feels good now. I’m getting to know her well… I feel like the partnership is building, which is great.”
It might have been even better for the Olympian and Zero K, though in they end they had to settle for fifth in the half a million dollar five-star Grand Prix won by Emilie Conter (BEL) and Portobella V/D Fruitkorf.
Agonisingly for the Offaly pilot, a clear round would have landed the $165,000 first prize but they had one rail down in the jump-off when posting by far the fastest time.
That put them just behind Tom Wachman, whose double clear on Tabasco De Toxandria Z earned connections $50,000 for fourth. Jordan Coyle also made it to the jump-off and finished seventh on Chaccolino.
Wachman and Obora’s Laura completed the show with a third-place finish tonight in the five-star 1.50m Hermes Classic.
Tom, his brother Max, their mentor Cian O’Connor and Jordan Coyle all made the jump-off. Coyle had the quickest four faults to nab seventh on For Gold, while O’Connor and Iron Man were the slowest of the double clear cohort, giving them sixth.
Max Wachman and Kilkenny were a quarter of a second quicker in fifth, with Tom Wachman and Obora’s Laura taking Irish honours with a clear in 41.33.