THE Irish-bred mare Suma’s Zorro won her second five-star Grand Prix of the season and the richest class in the world last Sunday evening when clearing a monstrous 1.70m track in Spruce Meadows to land the $3 million CP International Grand Prix.
Under Egyptian show jumper Sameh el Dahan, the 14-year-old mare by Ard VDL Douglas – who was bred by Marily Power and Susan Lanigan O’Keeffe in Co Navan before they relocated to Kilkenny – secured a pay cheque of $1 million dollars for her Irish owner Joanne Sloan-Allen of Sycamore Stable in Templepatrick, Co Antrim.
Once again putting Irish breeding on the show jumping world map, Suma’s Zorro came out on top in a third-round jump-off against The Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten and Verdi TN.
After a dramatic first round, where poles came crashing down at various fences around Leopoldo Palacios’ testing track, there were seven clears, and with a total of 12 going through. Four riders on four faults from the first round came back, as well as Co Down’s Conor Swail, who finished with a single time penalty in the first round aboard Rubens LS La Silla.
The second round included former winner Beezie Madden (Coach) and Eric Lamaze (Fine Lady 5), as well as big contenders Luciana Diniz (Fit For Fun), Steve Guerdat (Hannah) and Nicola Philippaerts (H&M Harley VD Bisschop).
Just el Dahan and van der Vleuten kept a clean sheet in round two and Madden secured third place when finishing on a time penalty. Swail picked up nine faults second time out with Rose Hill Farm’s stallion to secure $135,000 and sixth place.
Van der Vleuten was first to go in the jump-off and he impressively navigated the imposing arena, leaving all the fences standing and crossing the finish line in a time of 42.98 seconds with the 16-year-old Quidam de Revel-sired stallion. With three clear rounds incredibly difficult to come by, van der Vleuten was almost taking his place on top of the podium.
However, Co Antrim-based El Dahan, who heads for next week’s World Equestrian Games, had other ideas and with a series of tight turns, he broke the beam in a time of 42.21, beating the Dutch man in the narrowest of margins and was crowned the new live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
Speaking after his win, El Dahan said: “This is one of the biggest achievements of my career. The feeling is indescribable. I need a few days to make sure everything sinks in and believe that it actually happened. Going forward, the four Majors which make up the Rolex Grand Slam will be at the top of my list to compete at.”
He contined: “You know what, every time I sit on this mare I am super confident, because no matter what is at stake, she just gives her best. So it is just up to me to put her in the right spot and keep her confident and happy in the ring. If I do that, she does her job exquisitely.
“I think she proved that today and so many times down through the years. It’s the most prestigious Grand Prix she has ever won and I was lucky enough to be the one that was riding her.”
BREEDERS
Out of the Irish Sport Horse mare Vixens Frolic, who is by the thoroughbred stallion Horos, Suma’s Zorro was born in Suma Stud’s first home in Co Navan. She was sold to Joanne Sloan-Allen, who is also a competitive rider, at a foal sale in 2004.
“She [Suma’s Zorro] has given us enormous pleasure. We sold her as a foal at a sale we had in 2004. We have a cracking foal for sale at the moment on Irish Horse Gateway that is closely related to Suma’s Zorro. I have always said, no matter how good they are, if they are not produced the right way they will never reach their full potential. Sameh and Zorro are a brilliant combination,” Marily Power said this week after the victory.
Although Suma’s Zorro is registered with the Anglo European Studbook, the Spruce Meadows victory will put Suma Stud in a good position to win the Horse Sport Ireland breeders’ prize this season, a new initiative which was launch this year to support breeders of Irish horses, irrespective of the studbook they are registered to.
Horse Sport Ireland CEO Ronan Murphy said: “The Rolex Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows is one of the biggest competitions in the world and it is fantastic to see an Irish-owned and bred mare taking victory. We wish them well at the World Equestrian Games and in the next leg of the Rolex Grand Slam.”
nations cup
The Irish team finished third in last Saturday night’s BMO Nations Cup at the stunning Calgary venue. Guided by chef d’equipe Taylor Vard, the team of Conor Swail (Rubens LS La Silla), Daniel Coyle (Cita), Dermott Lennon (Gelvin’s Touch) and Captain Brian Cournane (Dino) finished on a total of 15 faults.
Germany took victory on six faults, while Canada scored a runner-up finish on home soil when finishing with 13 faults.
Conor Swail placed second in two 1.50m classes aboard Vanessa Mannix’s 10-year-old Clarimo-sired gelding GK Coco Chanel. Dermott Lennon was also in the prizes when placing fifth in Wednesday’s 1.60m jump-off with Gelvin’s Touch (ISH).