World champion Dermott Lennon galloped his way back into the Dublin winner's enclosure for the first time in three years when claiming the Speed Derby from the front yesterday.
Third into the arena, Lennon and the 10-year-old I Caesar set a target that had the rest of the field floundering, allowing the Co Down rider to write his name on the €6,600 winner's cheque. Capt Shane Carey made it an Irish one-two when crossing the line 1.28 seconds off the pace with Lismakin. The winning horse was bred in Co Kilkenny by Geraldine Digby, whose son Vincent now owns the horse.
"It's nice to win at home," Lennon said afterwards. The Cavalier gelding came to Lennon 2½ years ago and, "since he started doing international shows, there have only been four that he didn't win money at".
Lennon's last Dublin victory came at the 2002 horse show when he scored a hat-trick and then went on to claim individual gold at the world equestrian games in Jerez. But the mare Liscalgot has been seen only a couple of times since and is now breeding foals. The mare had her first foal, a filly by the great German stallion For Pleasure, by embryo transfer two weeks ago and another foal by Cruising is due in 10 days' time.
But Lennon wouldn't rule out the possibility of a return to competition for the 14-year-old mare. "She's hacking out and she's very healthy and sound," he said.
Cian O'Connor, bidding for a hat-trick with ABC Landliebe, left the arena on foot after a heavy fall with the mare. The defending champions had scorched around the first half of the course and looked all set for victory, but the mare paddled through the white vertical after the bank, firing O'Connor over her head. The mare galloped at racing speed for the in-gate, leaving her jockey lying on the grass. He was down for a good while before getting to his feet, waving to the crowd on the long walk back out.
"When you're going at 100mph round a 1.40-metre course sometimes it mightn't come off," O'Connor said afterwards. "It was a hard enough fall and I couldn't remember where I was for five minutes, but there isn't a mark on me. I'll live to fight another day."
There was no joy for the home side in the earlier Power and Speed, however.
A tough track caught out way too many horses, with only seven making it through to the speed section and leaving spectators bewildered. Honours eventually went to Jeffrey Welles and Armani for the second American victory of the show after Beezie Madden's opening day win.