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Darragh Kenny and Delilah Dash to Victory in $10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake

by Darragh Kenny and Delilah Dash to Victory in $10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake | Mar 2, 2013, 2:06 AM

Darragh Kenny and Delilah (Sportfot)
Darragh Kenny and Delilah (Sportfot)
Wellington, FL
- G&C Farm's $10,000 Speed Stake was also held on Friday with a win for Ireland's Darragh Kenny and Delilah, owned by Derbypie, LLC. In a field of 35 international starters, Kenny and Delilah completed the fastest of 9 clear rounds in 59.07 seconds. Germany's Johannes Ehning and Cayenne 162, owned by Winley Farm LLC, finished second in 59.63 seconds. USA's Reed Kessler and Ligist were third with a time of 61.54 seconds.

Delilah is a 13-year-old KWPN mare by Lancelot x Gracio owned by young American rider Hasbrouck Donovan, who has shown successfully in the junior jumpers. Kenny explained that he has been keeping the mare fit for her rider over the winter and asked if he could use her as a speed horse this week.

"It is a super horse," Kenny stated. "She is so easy and brave and uncomplicated and careful. She has a huge stride and you can really gallop with her. She wants to win, so it makes my life really easy."

Commenting on Friday's class, Kenny noted, "It was a really nice result. I thought it was a really good course for a speed class. There were enough questions and tight turns, but also a lot of galloping. It was really interesting because in a really good speed class you have to be careful about leaving the jumps up too and a good few people at the start had faults. You just had to be a little bit careful and then you had to go pretty quick."

Kenny is frequently one of the fastest riders in any class and explained that confidence in his horses is key. "I am lucky, I just know how to go fast," he smiled. "At this stage I have had a lot of practice. It is a simple thing. If you can trust your horses to jump the jumps clear, then speed comes a lot easier. Delilah is so careful and she tries so hard that when I turn back to anything, even if I am not at the perfect distance or even if I am going too fast, I know she is going to try. That makes it easier; it gives you more room to go faster."

Also showing in the International Arena on Friday, McLain Ward and Tequestrian Farm's Coco 135 earned a victory in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge. Johannes Ehning and Appearance 2, owned by Nybor Pferde GMBH & Co. KG, triumphed in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class.

Final Results: $10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake CSIO   
1. DELILAH: 2000 KWPN mare by Lancelot x Gracio
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Derbypie, LLC: 0/59.07

2. CAYENNE 162: 2003 Westphalian mare by Cornet Obolensky x Gonfaron
JOHANNES EHNING (GER), Winley Farm LLC: 0/59.63  

3. LIGIST: 2000 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Levantos II x Robin Z
REED KESSLER (USA), Reed Kessler: 0/61.54

4. VDL DOGAN: 2003 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Chin Chin x Darco
CANDICE KING (USA), Bellissimo, LLC: 0/66.69

5. CATWALK 19: 2003 Holsteiner stallion by Contender x Caretino
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), South Shore Farm: 0/67.69

6. VANILLA: 2002 Danish Warmblood mare by Nabab De Reve x Clinton
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/70.16  

7. AD BABOUCHE: 2000 gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Aldato
ATHINA ONASSIS DE MIRANDA (GRE), Athina Onassis de Miranda & Victory Equestrian: 0/70.59

8. COLASKO: 2005 Oldenburg stallion by Coleman x Granus
NICOLAS PIZARRO (MEX), Genaro Larrea Mota Velazco: 0/71.81

9. VANDAVID: 2002 KWPN stallion by Madison x Voltaire
CATHERINE PASMORE (USA), Pasmore Stables: 0/76.15

10. LA FLEUR 43: 2001 Westphalian mare by Lamoureux I x Polydor
LEOPOLDO PAOLI (VEN), Leopoldo Paoli: 1/80.41

11. LITTLE TINKA: 1998 AES gelding by Tinka's Boy x Fiorello
HOLGER HETZEL (GER), Holger Hetzel: 2/82.11

12. CANTANDO LYNGRIIS: 2001 Holsteiner stallion by Cassini I x Zarewitsch XX
DANIEL BLUMAN (COL), Ilan Ferder: 4/60.70