WELLINGTON, Fla.--Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny on Zero K, a mare he's only ridden for a couple of months, won the $116,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 on Thursday, March 6 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Darragh Kenny on Zero K (Photo by Sportfot)Since getting the mare in December, he quickly moved her up into five-star grand prix classes. T
Kenny won by over a full second in a 16 horse jump-off from the big starting field of 56 that competed over a course set by Alan Wade of Ireland.
He went eighth of the 16 and finished clean in a time of 34.86 seconds, the fastest of the six clean in the jump-off.
Daniel Bluman of Israel on Gemma W placed second, clean in 36.0, and Spencer Smith on Keeneland finished third, clean in 36.52.
Nina Mallevaey of France on Dynastie De Beaufour was fourth in 37,44, with Alise Oken on Gelvera fifth in 38.89, Thaisa Erwin of Australia on Hialita B sixth in 39.63, and Kent Farrington on Orafina the fastest of the four-faulters in seventh.
“I’ve been getting to know the mare a lot better through circuit because I only got her one show before WEF started,” Kenny said. “The first rounds have been pretty good, jump-offs haven’t been perfect. I knew it was going to be very fast today, and she has a big stride, so a lot of the lines were connected. I could use her big stride and hopefully not make mistakes."
“I WAS REALLY nervous doing the six strides from fences one to two because I was a long way away,” he said. “These classes are so competitive. There are so many brilliant riders. One day it’s me, next day it’s Kent Farrington, next day it’s Richard Vogel, Henrik Von Eckermann, Mclain Ward. That’s just how competitive this circuit is here.”
“She’s very sensitive,” Kenny said of Zero K. “She’s special in her own way, but in the ring, she wants to do her best. Sometimes she tries too hard, but it’s always in the right way, and that’s what I really like about her. She’s a little tense sometimes but for the most part she’s just misunderstood. She wants to be the best she can be.”
“I’ve been a little late to the party this season,” said Kenny. “I’ve taken my time and not rushed any of the horses and put their health before everything. It’s starting to show. Eddy Blue was super the other week in the grand prix, and this horse feels good now. I’m getting to know her well. She’ll still be green Saturday night, but I feel like the partnership is building, which is great.”
Earlier Thursday in the International Arena, Lorenzo de Luca of Italy on Golden du Breuil won the $32,000, CSI2* 1.45m.
Eve Jobs on Valentino Tuiliere placed second, and Abigail McArdle on Olympia van het Eikenhof was third.
