DERRY’s Daniel Coyle is the latest Irish rider to add his name to a 2023 WEF Grand Prix victory, landing the $226,000 JTWG, Inc. CSIO4* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon at the Wellington, Florida venue.

It was Nations Cup week at Wellington which brought great excitement and Coyle made up for not jumping in Saturday’s feature class, where he was fifth man, by racing to victory with Ariel Grange’s 10-year-old Dutch-bred mare Ivory TCS.

Just four of the starting 43 made it into the jump-off over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s track. Coyle was second to go against the clock and produced the winning time of 38.06 seconds. USA’s Lacey Gilbertson delivered the only other clear against the clock with Karlin van’t Vennehof to finish in second place (0/0 39.20), ahead of McLain Ward and Callas in third (0/4 38.86).

Speaking afterwards, Coyle said: “I was second to go so I got to see Beth [Underhill]. I knew I had McLain coming after me so I had to give them something to chase but not leave very much for them to beat. Ivory is a very, very fast horse in every jump-off. I knew she would be quick, she might take two extra strides more than a big horse, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she will be slower because she does it so fast, so I tried to use the naturally quickness she has to my advantage.”

Coyle started his week with all his focus on the Grand Prix. “I wanted to give her a nice easy day in the qualifier. Coming out today I felt like we had a good shot. I told Ariel earlier that it might be our day and I’m thrilled that it was. Everything worked exactly to our plan.

“Ivory was bought to be sold and I’ve had a few people try her, but I have to say I’m delighted that she has not gone yet,” added Coyle.

To close the afternoon, winning groom Greg DeBie was presented with the $500 Grooms Award, presented by Double H Farm, while Coyle also accepted the Niall Grimes “Sheers” Perpetual Trophy as top money-earning Irish rider during CSIO week at WEF.

Ireland third in Nations Cup

The Irish show jumping team of David Blake, Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Max Wachman finished third in Saturday’s night’s Nations Cup under the lights.

In the first round, Shane Sweetnam picked up eight faults with his own and Voquest LLC’s Namaste Van Het Eyckeveld, before 19-year-old Max Wachman and his grandmother Sue Magnier’s Kilkenny made their Nations Cup debut as a partnership and finished with four faults

David Blake then produced a great clear with Pine Hollow Farm’s Claude, before Cian O’Connor also picked up four faults with Coolmore Showjumping’s Berlux Z.

In the second round, Sweetnam once again finished with eight faults, before Wachman produced a foot-perfect clear round with the Ita Brennan-bred Kilkenny (Cardento x Guidam). Blake returned with eight faults second time out, and O’Connor put his mistake to right when coming home with a clear.

That left Ireland in third place on a final score of 16 faults, behind winners Canada and second placed Brazil. Speaking after the competition, chef d’equipe Michael Blake said: “We knew Canada had a strong team coming out this evening and I’d like to congratulate them on their performance.

“We had some very strong performances tonight and some unlucky faults. As always, I would like to thank the owners of our Irish team horses who make competing in Nations Cups and successes like tonight possible. And to our team sponsors – thank you.”

As well as competing on the senior team, Max Wachman was runner-up in the $39,000 Hermès Under 25 Semi-Final Grand Prix in the main arena at the venue. Riding Coolmore Showjumping’s eight-year-old Selle Français stallion Fancy de Kergune, he was one of only two clears in the jump-off. Victory went to USA’s Sheer Levitin with her own Vitus K.