Darragh Kenny pilots Chic Chic to victory. Photo © Sportfot.
Press release from Equestrian Sport Productions
The third out of four internationally-rated five-star weeks at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) brought back some of the world’s best riders to the International Arena on Wednesday, March 9. Week 9, sponsored by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, features five days of FEI five-star and two-star classes in tandem with nationally-rated hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions.
The week will build in action leading up to the $406,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5* during “Saturday Night Lights” on March 12 and finish with the $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic on Sunday, March 13. Wednesday’s competition culminated in the $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5* where Ireland’s Darragh Kenny rose to the top aboard Chic Chic.
Top course designer Alan Wade (IRL) set up a power-and-speed track worthy of its 62 opponents as the premier event of the day. The task proved difficult for many, and only 18 managed to navigate fault-free. Of the 18 nations represented in the event, representatives from seven countries earned a clear round while 14 riders suffered from a disobedience or downed obstacle. The Irish dominated the day with Kenny blazing the trail and fellow citizen Mark McAuley taking up second with O’Hara ELS. Kenny went early in the class but proved he still has a knack for speed, holding himself nearly a second shy of any further competitors with a top time of 32.69 seconds. McAuley gave it his best shot but stopped the clock in 33.36 seconds which promoted him to second place with LT Competition’s 10-year-old CH mare by Ogano Sitte x Liandero.
Jasmine Velez of Douglas Elliman Real Estate stands with class winner Darragh Kenny. Photo © Sportfot.
“I’ve had this horse for several years now, and I know he is naturally quite fast,” explained Kenny. “He had a bit of a break over the fall, and he is just building back up to this level. He felt like he was in good form today so I wanted to try and have a good go.”
Kenny has been partnered with the Vlock Show Stables LLC’s 11-year-old Westphalian stallion (Comme Il Faut 5 x Contendro I) for more than two years, and they have previously been successful at the grand prix level.
“He is a very good horse, and he was competitive today,” added Kenny. “Some of the lines in today’s course were a bit short which suited him well because he doesn’t have the biggest stride. If I don’t have to worry about getting down a line it allows me to keep my forward pace better.”
Chic Chic will return to the International Arena on the final day of WEF 9 to compete in the $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m CSI5*.
“It has been competitive here as it is every year,” finished Kenny. “It is always difficult to win here but if you do, you know you are doing something right.”
Brazil had a top showing today as Eduardo Pereira De Menezes and Rodrigo Pessoa secured the third and fourth positions. Menezes jumped into third with H5 Sport Horses LLC’s 10-year-old KWPN stallion H. Big Action (Action-Breaker x Big Star) after narrowly missing McAuley with a finishing time of 33.79 seconds. Pessoa followed closely aboard the Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC’s Venice Beach in a time of 33.93 seconds to just miss the victory gallop.
Final Results: $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5*
1. CHIC CHIC: 2011 Westphalian stallion by Comme Il Faut 5 x Contendro I
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/0/32.69
2. O’HARA ELS: 2012 CH mare by Ogano Sitte x Liandero
MARK MCAULEY (IRL), LT Competition: 0/0/33.36
3. BIG ACTION: 2012 KWPN stallion by Action-Breaker x Big Star
EDUARDO PEREIRA DE MENEZES (BRA), H5 Sport Horses LLC: 0/0/33.79
4. VENICE BEACH: 2009 Hannoverian mare by Voltaire x Escudo I
RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC: 0/0/33.93
5. CASALOR: 2012 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Acodetto
ABDEL SAÏD (BEL), Abdel Saïd: 0/0/33.98
6. LAZY: 2011 BWP mare by Hickstead x Cruising
ZOE CONTER (BEL), Stephex Stables and Aurora Farms, LLC: 0/0/34.63
7. BACARA D’ARCHONFOSSE: 2007 SBS mare by Asca Z x Kannan
EMILY MOFFITT (GBR), Poden Farms: 0/0/34.69
8. SKYHORSE: 2007 BWP gelding by Calvaro F.C. x Quidam de Revel
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC: 0/0/34.69
9. FARO: 2010 KWPN gelding by Calvaro F.C. x Contendro II
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Temple Equestrian LLC: 0/0/34.76
10. CELTIC HERO BZ: 2012 Zangersheide stallion by Calikot Hero x Nissan Caretano Z
HEATHER CARISTO-WILLIAMS (USA), Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Caristo: 0/0/35.06
11. DIJON TERDOORN Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Lord Z
KATHERINE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/0/35.54
12. ALPHA DE TERNOIRE: 2010 Selle Francais gelding by Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Olisco
MARIE HECART (FRA), Normandie Connection: 0/0/36.43
Then