PROUD DAD BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN was in the crowd today as his daughter Jessica recorded her first ever victory in Ireland, collecting the €8,000 top prize in the Anglesea Stakes, the last international competition on day two of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.
Looking on from the grandstand, the rock icon cheered as 22 year-old Jessica outpaced a 52-strong field in the final round on 11 year-old mare Davendy S, stopping the clock a fraction of a second faster than the world world number three, Britain’s Ben Maher.
The Springsteen win capped a good day for American riders in the international classes; Chicago-born Kent Farrington was also victorious today, taking first in the Speed Stakes and beating Irish star Conor Swail and Lansdowne by almost one and a half seconds.
However, there was still some success for Ireland with four of the top five places in the first international class of the day, the Speed Derby, being filled by green jackets.
The winning combination was 19 year-old Michael Duffy and Westland Ruby with second place going to Mayo’s Cameron Hanley and Newton du Haut Bois who yesterday captured the first international event of the week, the Speed Stakes.
Third place went to 17 year-old veteran Mo Chroi ridden by Captain Michael Kelly, while Conor Swail took fifth with the stallion Grafton.
Elsewhere, Irish show-jumping manager Robert Splaine named the team that will compete in the Aga Khan Trophy competition on Friday.
Ireland will be the second of eight teams to jump as they compete for vital points in concluding leg of the 2014 Nations’ Cup series.
The team in full:
Darragh Kenny – Imothep
Bertram Allen – Molly Malone V
Cian O’Connor – Quidam’s Cherie
Dermott Lennon – Loughview Lou Lou (ISH)
Super exciting times ahead! Definitely need to be at that top table!
@42, ye mixed up the timings for todays matches. They are correct in the article but incorrect in the listing underneath.
Who’s selected to play? Cant find the teams