THE Irish flag was flying at the FEI four-star show at Old Salem Farm, New York last week, as two Irishmen claimed top honours in the first two international classes last Thursday, with each class featuring over 40 entries.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Cork’s Simon McCarthy won classes on Thursday and Friday at four-star and two-star level respectively. Meanwhile, Stephen Moore was one of the show’s big winners, when he took the runner-up spot in Sunday’s $200,000 four-star 1.50m Blue Diamond Cup, the highlight of the show.

The challenging class saw 27 entries representing seven countries taking on the 16-effort track designed and built by Ken Krome; only four of them advanced to the jump-off. Pathfinder Brian Moggre (USA) jumped double-clear, setting the time to beat at 37.07 seconds on MTM Vivre Le Reve. His lead was short-lived as Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa entered the ring with the nine-year-old Selle Français gelding, Starman, owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC, and sped around the course clear in an incredible 34.03 seconds.

Moore rode Colibelle Hero Z, a nine-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Vlock Show Stables LLC, to a clear round in a slightly slower time of 36.09 seconds, which secured him second place and a $40,000 prize.

Moggre placed third, while Kenny took fourth after incurring eight-faults in the jump-off riding Heathman Farm LLC’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, Rockstar.

Another Irish man, Nicky Galligan rounded out the top five with VDL Nikita Van De Leeuwerk, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by the Santa Rosa Group, following a single time fault in the first round.

Delighted

Kenny rode double clear with Serendepety in Thursday’s $10,000 4* 1.45m two-phase class to take the win and the major share of the prize pot, in a speedy time of 25.36 seconds, but also placed fifth with Chaccoletto. Jordan Coyle and Keep Me With You NC was sixth in the class.

Darragh Kenny and Serendepety won the $10,000 FEI 4* Two-Phase presented by Eastern Hay at Old Salem Farm, New York \ SEL Photography

Kenny is delighted with the progress Beerbaum Stables GMBH’s nine-year-old Serendepety has been making at this level.

“Serendepety is a really fast mare,” Kenny said afterwards. “She’s really stepped up to the 1.45/1.50m level, and I just had a bit of fun with her today. She’s super quick across the ground and really light, and I just had to turn back in a couple of places for the time. She was great.”

The $5,000 two-star 1.40m Speed class followed later in the afternoon, with 43 entries taking on the 13-effort course. Third to go, McCarthy set a very fast time to beat of 58.26 seconds aboard his eight-year-old Selle Français mare Good Mood Semilly.

They retained the lead throughout, with only Georgina Bloomberg (USA) on Copernicus coming within five seconds of that time to claim second place in 63.13 seconds. Third went to Delaney Flynn (USA) on My Lady Carthago in 67.49 seconds.

“She’s naturally very, very fast,” McCarthy said. “She’s a pretty new horse for me, so I’m just trying to figure her out right now. She’s jumped quite a few clear rounds with me recently, so today, I decided to see what would happen if I went fast. She’s just as good about that!”

Friday’s four-star $65,000 Welcome Stake saw 45 entries, with 18 advancing to the jump-off. Sarah Segal (USA) with Boreale De Fondcombe set the time to beat at 36.92 seconds.

Fresh off his win the day before, Simon McCarthy knocked her down the leaderboard with a double-clear in 36.46 seconds, but American rider Zayna Rizvi on board Exquise Du Pachis was even faster in 35.83 seconds to win the class.

McCarthy placed second aboard Ilan Ferder’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Narcotique V/H Dingenshof, while Segal finished third. Kenny placed fourth with Chaccoletto.

Victory

Kenny also returned to the podium on Friday, taking victory in the evening’s $32,000 two-star 1.45m Welcome Stake presented by Old Salem Farm with Lightning. The class saw 58 entries taking on the 16-effort track, with nine getting through to the jump-off. Kenny rode a lightening-quick round with the aptly named eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Oakland Ventures, jumping double-clear in an unbeatable time of 34.00 seconds.

“I’m not quite sure how I did it,” Kenny said. “She’s a very quick horse, and we did similar numbers and turns as Sydney (Shulman Desiderio), whose horse is also very fast.

“I think in the end, it was just one of those things where it worked out for me today, and it would work out for Sydney tomorrow.

“My mare was very good,” he added. “She’s only eight years old, and I’m very happy with her. I think she’s going to be a very good horse for the future.”

Sydney Shulman Desiderio (ISR) and speed expert Villamoura, were second with a faultless time of 34.22 seconds, while Canada’s Mario Deslauriers came third in 35.66 seconds on Costa Quick PS.