The opening day of the 150th edition of the Dublin Horse Show saw two Irish wins as Jordan Coyle and Mikey Pender scored five-star victories at the RDS in the opening pair of 1.45m speed classes.
Coyle led a field of 44 to take the honours in the Heathman Farm Speed Stakes on Wednesday morning, producing a blisteringly fast clear round on the Millview Cicero.
Coyle and Millview Cicero ambled into the arena with pathfinder Susan Fitzpatrick and Lovely Stassi PS in the lead, having gone clear in a time of 54.76 seconds.
A total of 26 combinations failed to improve upon that standard until Coyle and Millview Cicero stopped the clock at 52.70.
That was untouchable, and only Adrian Whiteaway got anywhere close, just edging out Fitzpatrick for second with I Am A Harley registering a clear in 54.40.
In a sign of what was to come, the consistent Pender was fourth on HHS Cyprus but the Castledermot pilot entered the winner’s enclosure in the next event, the Minerva Stakes.
There were 47 participants attempting to clear the 11 obstacles in the quickest time possible, and with HHS Fortune accurate and quick, it was comfortable enough for Pender, the duo registering a flawless round in 51.23 to see off Pius Schwizer on Joan.
Trevor Breen completed the podium with Konrad Obolensky.
The 1.55m Sport Ireland Classic narrowly escaped Pender’s clutches as Germany's Richard Vogel and Phenyo van het Keysersbos went around blemish-free in 67.57 – 0.85 slower than Coyle and For Gold.
The winning clear was just 0.32 faster than the in-form Pender and HHS Los Angeles. Former Irish chef d’equipe, Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil was third with Dhalida.
Watch the Dublin Horse Show from Friday to Sunday with RTÉ Sport. Coverage on Friday begins at 1.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, on Saturday from 5.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and on Sunday from 2.40pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
