Syracuse, NY (November 1, 2009) – In another day of brilliant riding competition and harrowing finishes 21-year old Darragh Kenny of Ireland rode almost flawlessly through the three phase $50,000 Animal Planet Cup to seal his second major victory here at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament. It was only the previous evening that Kenny won the $100,000 Budweiser FEI World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse, his first World Cup qualifier victory.
 
Kenny finished the three phases with 26 points, followed by Leslie Burr Howard with 25 points and McLain Ward in third with 22, both from the USA. Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker finished fourth followed by Margie Engle and Hillary Dobbs of the USA and Keean White of Canada to round out the final seven qualifiers for the event.
 
When asked if he expected to win today Kenny said, “If you’d told me I was going to win yesterday I would have said you’re crazy. I didn’t think I’d win the world cup, [qualifier]; I never dreamed I’d win this one. I’m shell shocked.”
 
The unique format of the Animal Planet Cup, a signature event at Syracuse, features the final seven riders who accumulated the most points in the international division over the course of the Tournament. The six top point winners and the winner of the Budweiser World Cup Qualifier comprise the final list of seven.  The seven finalists then take on the three-phase competition using horses that specialize in each area.
 
In the Phase 1, a “hit and hurry” speed class, the field had to clear as many obstacles as possible within the allotted 45 seconds, scoring a point for each. USA’s McLain Ward, aboard Miss Liberty 7 and Margie Engle riding Hidden Creek’s Pamina L topped the standings with 12 points each.
 
Phase II focused on power jumping with an exciting 4-bar competition. In this make or break Phase, if a rider faults early their chance to accumulate points dramatically diminishes. One of the week’s hottest riders, Hillary Dobbs, faulted early in Phase II and saw her chance at a win virtually dry up.
 
Only three riders advanced to fourth and final round of Phase II to take on the giant 6’2” vertical – Howard, now aboard Raimond W, Kenny aboard Gael Force and Ward aboard Esplanade 7, with Kenny and Ward tied for the lead with 26 points going into Phase III.
 
“I rode Bazooka early for speed, but I knew I could rely on Gael Force going to the 4 bar,” Kenny said. “I knew the 4 bar could be the difference.”

 
Phase III was a Grand Prix-type competition scored on speed in which each fault counted as penalty points from the riders’ scores in the previous phases..
 
Kenny and Ward entered the round tied, Howard a point behind and Engle and Whitaker still in contention with 19 and 18 points respectively. Late in the Phase, Howard, still aboard Raimond W, negotiated the course without a fault with a conservative time of 60.97 seconds. Kenny, the second to last rider, knew that to win he would have to set down a quick time to hold off Ward. He and Gael Force laid down clear round with a respectable time of 56.04 seconds, forcing Ward to go for a fast clear to win. In a climactic ending Ward and Eplanade 7 collapsed the second jump, losing 4 points, leaving Kenny the dramatic winner and relegating Ward to third.

###

CAPTION: Darragh Kenny riding Bazooka de Muze. Kenny won the 2009 $50,000 Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup

PHOTO CREDIT: Reflections Photography, Inc.

About the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament: Each fall, the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament welcomes the top-ranked equestrians from across the US and the world to downtown Syracuse to compete at the War Memorial Arena in the Oncenter Complex. The event features a full slate of high-level competition, entertainment, shopping and exhibitions. A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, the Syracuse Invitational benefits Cornell University Equine Hospital and the Vera House.