WELLINGTON, Fla.--Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny on Eddy Blue won the $116,100, CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 on Thursday, Feb.19 to open Week 7 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Darragh Kenny on Eddy Blue (Photo by Spotfot)From a starting field of 43, 11 advanced to the jump-off, with eight clean again, over the course set by Andy Christiansen of Ecuador,
Eighth to go in the jump-off, Kenny was clean in 37.90 seconds to beat Bertram Allen of Ireland on Conquest de Rigo, who had set the time to beat of 39.12 seconds
Charlotte Jacobs on Playboy JT Z was third in 40.01.
“I knew Bertram’s horse has a massive stride; he did seven strides from one to two. I wasn’t sure if I could do that, but it showed up for me," said Kenny. "I think my horse is more experienced than his in jump-offs, so that’s probably where it got him.”
Kenny was officially cleared to return to international competition on Feb. 13 after the FEI lifted a provisional suspension issued on Oct. 13 following a positive drug test during the FEI European Championships.
“THIS IS my first week back," said Kenny. "Bertram rode Eddy for me recently and did a fantastic job on him. The horse feels ready to go, and he was amazing today, as he always is. I’m very lucky to have such a fantastic group of owners and staff who kept the horses in great shape. I was lucky Bertram was able to ride them for me. I’m very thankful to everybody who was involved in that.”
Kenny will ride Eddy Blue during Saturday Night Lights in the $500,000 CSI5* Grand Prix on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. ET.
Kenny is aiming for the $1M Grand Prix, a Rolex Series event, during the finale week of the WEF season.
“The World Equestrian Games in Aachen is also one of our goals this year,” said Kenny. “But, I’m taking it day by day for now, getting back into the groove of things.”
