DERRY’s Daniel Coyle was delighted to return to the winners’ enclosure with Ariel Grange’s 13-year-old mare Cita at the five-star Nations Cup show in Langley, Canada, last weekend.

The mare, who has won classes all over the world, had not competed in an FEI class since last September and was back to her best when winning Saturday’s $36,500 tbird Cup.

Some 33 combinations started over the 1.50m track and six made it through to the jump-off, including Daniel’s brother Jordan, who, riding Picador, finished in third place with a double clear in 40.85 seconds.

Daniel was second last to go in the jump-off and, with Mexico’s Patricio Pasquel to follow, he put the pedal to the floor and broke the beam in a time of 38.03 seconds, almost two seconds faster than America’s Karrie Rufer in second place with Georgie D’Auvray EC, a former mount of Trevor Breen.

“I didn’t get to watch many but I had Jordan before me on his young horse which was a big help,” Coyle said afterwards.

“Michael [Blake] had told me to do eight strides from one to two and I just followed the round after to be as tight as I can. Cita is naturally very fast and it is only her first show this year so I am very happy!

“If you asked her for everything, she’ll always give it to you,” Coyle said of Cita. “I said, ‘Okay, I’ll be as fast as I can,’ but at the same time, she has to have a lot of fun. She’s that age. She’s not that old, but she’s older, and if a horse that’s older doesn’t enjoy herself, she’s not going to have much time left.”