ROBERT SPLAINE, winner of the King's Cup at the Royal International Horse Show last year, galloped his way to victory in the same Hickstead arena yesterday to claim the speed Grand Prix - which he last won in 1992 with Heather Blaze. Meanwhile, Trevor Coyle and the stallion Cruising were also making their way into the winner's enclosure in the Wolfsburg Grand Prix in Germany.
Splaine, who lost his King's Cup winner Heather Blaze in a fall at the water jump during last year's Dublin Horse Show, was drawn fifth to go and knew he had to set a serious target with the eight year old novice Convent Hill Diamond.
But Edward O'Driscoll's stallion had already won Thursday's opening qualifier and Splaine put his foot to the floor, hurtling over Hickstead's permanent obstacles and the more traditional show jumps, to stop the clock on 76.13 with a horse that only made its international debut in January of this year.
The time was beatable, as last man in Francis Connors proved with the 18 year old veteran and defending champion Diamond Express. But although the old horse flew through the finish in 73.78, two fences were on the floor and Splaine was assured of victory, with Grand Prix winner John Whitaker second on another stallion Jolly Boy. Edward Doyle, third in the morning's fault and out with Jessie, slotted into fourth with Kilcorban.
Splaine had been slumbering in the early June sunshine before the class and the rest had obviously done the job, but the laidback Corkman was to be seen catching up on some more sleep while his rivals attempted to wrestle the honours from him, waking only to watch Francis Connors bid for his third consecutive Hickstead Speed Derby win with Diamond Express.
However, Splaine was quick to point out afterwards that the snooze was more than necessary as he was leaving immediately after the class to drive the lorry back overnight to Ireland before jumping at a show in Lismore, Co Waterford today.
European champion Peter Charles was one of 10 through to the timed round for Saturday's Enza Grand Prix and, fourth to go with his Atlanta hope Benetton, he was home clear in 55.05 to set the early target. But Whitaker sliced off nearly two seconds with his Olympic ride Welham for victory and last to go Michel Robert, winner of Thursday's feature class, slid into second with Airborne Montecillo to relegate Charles to third.
Whitaker and Charles battled it out in the following jump off class as well, and once again it was the British rider who came out on top, winning with the grey Elanville ahead of Belgium's Stanny van Paesschen, with Charles third on the French thoroughbred Blue Bayou.
Trevor Coyle and Cruising, members of Ireland's Triple Nations Cup winning team last year, claimed yesterday's Wolfsburg Grand Prix at the expense of Switzerland's Beat Maendli. But the stallion will not be part of Ireland's Olympic squad following a decision by owner Mary McCann that the expected heat and humidity in Atlanta will not suit the horse.
On the home circuit, Ballyclare rider Harry Marshall came out best of an eight horse jump off to win the Stepaside Grand Prix with Burbank. Marion Hughes, who flew back from Hickstead especially for the Co Dublin fixture, was second with Carnival Bouncer, ahead of Joan Green, and O'Shea's Kilcullen Diamond.
Heineken league leader Tom Slattery, who broke his collar bone in a fall from a young horse only three weeks ago, got the all clear to ride this weekend and, in spite of hitting a fence in the timed round, finished fourth with the stallion Coille Mor Hill to hold his league lead by nine points from Conor Swail.
