Sandwiched between a pair of riders clocked in exactly the same jump-off time, and slotted in before last-to-go Ben Maher, Darragh Kenny had not an instant to spare as he pursued victory in the finale of the $500,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix Saturday night.
The U.S.-based Irishman was able to finish the tiebreaker with Eddy Blue in 41.77 seconds, good enough to beat Australia’s Thaisa Irwin on Hialita B and the USA’s Marilyn Little on Contessa, who both were second in the 5-Star with a mark of 41.92.
But even after knowing he had edged them, in order to find out whether he’d won, Darragh had to wait for the last to go. That was world number three-ranked Ben on the reliable Dallas Vegas Batilly.
Then at the third fence, an oxer over a liverpool, Ben’s mare threw her head up and stopped, half-rearing and opening her mouth. The British rider kept calm, turned her around and cleared the obstacle, but the suspense was over.
Darragh took the top honors, and the two women tied for second, as Ben finished last in the nine-horse jump-off over the course laid out at the Winter Equestrian Festival by Ireland’s Alan Wade (the 2028 Olympic course designer).
Marilyn Little and Thaisa Erwin tied for second in the Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix, behind Darragh Kenny.
Explaining where he made up the necessary ground in the Wellington (Florida) International arena, Darragh said, “I was able to do seven (strides)” from the first jump to the second obstacle.
“He has a massive, massive stride…so I was able to do one less, one to two, and that’s pretty much what did it. He jumped great. He’s such an incredible horse all the time, he jumps clear, he tries his guts out. I’m just lucky to be able to ride him.”
Daragh added about his mount, “He feels in brilliant form, he’s fresh, he’s great.”
The field of 41 included U.S. stars Kent Farrington on Greya and McLain Ward with High Star Hero, but each had a single fence down and failed to make the tiebreaker. Kent dropped a pole at the fourth fence from the end, and McLain had the vertical that was the B element of the triple combination.
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