This Week’s International Round Up
Monday 19 August 2024
Joe Trunkfield was briefy reunited with Gracie Johnson’s Cruze to land victory in the Defender Puissance on his first visit to Ireland’s premier Dublin Horse Show, sharing the win with Ireland’s Mikey Pender.
“It was lovely to get back on Cruze and all the buttons were in the same place,” said Joe, who hadn’t ridden him since the 13-year-old stallion Cruze (Crusador x Kannan) was sold last October. “The atmosphere throughout was incredible, and the warm-up was electric!”
Eight came forward over the big red wall, including four Brits, in front of a huge enthusiastic crowd. But only three were left in round four, Elliott Smith and Flamboyant III bowing out at this stage to finish third.
“Not only is the show full of people, but full of genuine horse people all passionate about the sport from the kids on ponies to the young horses through to the Nations Cup,” added Joe. “The going was perfect so I only used small studs. It was the first time I’ve jumped a Puissance on grass, but he definitely got a good bounce off the Irish turf! All credit to Gracie and I’m grateful she was onboard to do the show.”
Mikey and Joe faced 2.20m in the final round, but Joe had already encountered a heart-stopping moment when Cruze pulled off a shoe on landing in round two. They eventually shared the prize with Mikey on Hearton Du Bois Halleux, a versatile 17-year-old who made Mikey the youngest Hickstead Derby winner in 2019.
“It all worked out in the end,” said Joe, who followed Mikey into the ring and knew if he jumped clear, he’d won outright, but four faults meant sharing the win. “It was a big old jump at 2.20m and great to win alongside a combination like Mikey and ‘Harold’, and it was a lovely touch being in the prize-giving for his announcement of retiring him.”
Joe had previously ridden they eye-catching grey in Puissance classes for former owner and rider James Ingham but the consistent high-jumper was sold after HOYS last year to Ireland-based Gracie Johnson.
“When the invite came through for Dublin, knowing he was based in Ireland I thought I’d try my luck and luckily, Gracie was game and brought him to the show on Thursday, while I flew out with James on Friday and had my first sit on him,” said Joe. “You could say it was an Irish way of doing it, I was half winging it, but he’d been going well with Gracie all week and he obviously knows what he’s doing with the wall. I’ll leave it in her hands, but if Gracie’s game for another one to come, I’ll just hop on at the show!”
Joe Stockdale eased Equine Rescue Services Kandleford into third in the 5* 1.50m Speed Championship. Twenty-four tackled this Table C course (seconds added for a knockdown) with Joe and the Kannan x Pythagoras 14-year-old jumping into third 0.72 seconds off the winning time set by Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat on Easy Star De Talma.
Tim Gredley featured in the seven-horse jump-off of the concluding Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, posting an early double clear aboard Imperial HBF to finish fifth more than seven seconds behind the winner, last-drawn Martin Fuchs for Switzerland on Conner Jei.
Alex Gill guided VDL Kelton into second in the 2* Grand Prix at Peelbergen in The Netherlands.
Sixty-six riders tackled a 13-fence 1.45m course and 17 found the key to return for the jump-off, Alex jumping another clean round on the Bubalu VDL x Corland nine-year-old to finish only 0.39 seconds behind the winner, Brazil’s Joao Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima on Charon Van Moeshof. Peter Murphy was also double clear to slip Cornet Deluxe into fifth.
Izac Ketteridge picked up fourth in Friday’s 36-strong 2* 1.45m speed on the 13-year-old Galerius (Diamant De Semilly x Sandro Boy) 1.81 seconds off the pace, moving up to second in the final 1.40m. Forty-six contended this two-phase class with Izac slotting into the runner-up spot 0.60 seconds in arrears.
Photo credit: 1st Class Images. Image: Tim Gredley and Imperial HBF
