Legacy helps Ireland win at the Longines League of Nations in Ocala

With wins in The London Grand Prix and the World Cups of both Leipzig and Amsterdam, the past few months have already been particularly successful for Irish rider Daniel Coyle and his 14-year-old top mare Legacy. Last weekend, that impressive list of achievements was extended a little more, as 2 fantastic clear rounds helped the Irish team to victory at the Longines League of Nations in Ocala!

After the opening round in Abu Dhabi, the magnificent accommodation of the World Equestrian Centre of Ocala was the setting for the second round of the revamped Longines League of Nations last weekend. The world's best 10 nations competed there once again with the aim of gathering points for the grand final in Barcelona later this year. After a particularly exciting run especially in the second round, victory was Ireland's and there Daniel Coyle and Legacy were part of the team. Coyle and Legacy, a daughter of Chippendale Z and Bon Ami, who was born as Chavantele Z to her breeder Romain Rotty, have already been putting in some strong performances in recent weeks and months, so that excellent form was confirmed again last weekend. During both the first round and the second and decisive round, the successful duo managed to ensure a flawless performance and with 2 clear rounds, they therefore had an important contribution in the Irish victory!

The bronze during this second round of the Longines League of Nations went to the United States and there Kent Farrington was a member of the team with the 11-year-old gelding Landon, the son of our chestnut stallion Comilfo Plus Z and Quadrillo who was born to breeder Danny Nijs as Crack de Nyze Z and with whom he managed to achieve a victory and a^2nd place in Wellington just last month. Farrington and Landon managed to stay clear in the first round and so they too provided another strong performance.

Another combination that again came out strong were Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten and his 14-year-old gelding Beauville Z N.O.P., the son of Bustique and Jumpy des Fontaines from the breeding farm of Pascal Habets. The bronze medallists from the Tokyo Olympics could not be found on a fault in either round, making them one of six combinations to keep it clear twice.

The Longines League of Nations naturally received the most attention over the past few days, but there were also many other classes on the programme in Ocala, in which some Zangersheide horses managed to jump into the limelight. For example, in the 1.55m GP Qualifier on Wednesday, French rider Simon Delestre won with his 11-year-old black gelding Dexter Fontenis Z, the son of Diarado and Voltaire bred by S.C.R.I S.Ky Horses. In a class against the clock, Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z sped to a finishing time of 65.41 seconds and with that performance they were more than half a second ahead of the competition.

Also in this class, Swedish rider Petronella Andersson and the 13-year-old chestnut gelding Castres van de Begijnakker Z (Coriano Z x Palestro Vd Begijnakker - B: Ann Keisse) managed to qualify. They, too, kept all the bars neatly in the reels and with a finishing time of 69.68 seconds they secured ^5th place in the standings. In the CSIO5* GP on Thursday, Andersson and Castres van de Begijnakker Z made themselves heard again with ^8th place in the standings. 2 penalties for exceeding the time allowed then kept them out of the jump-off.

After this 1.55m class, another 1.40m class was on the programme on Wednesday, in which French rider Olivier Perreau managed to secure another blue/yellow victory with the 10-year-old stallion Calypso Des Joanins Z, a son of Clearway and Chellano Z bred by Stephane Monier. In both the^1st and^2nd phases, Perreau and Calypso Des Joanins Z managed to stay clear and with a time of 27.35 seconds, they were almost a full second ahead of the competition. But Swiss rider Janika Sprunger also managed to make the podium here with her 9-year-old chestnut mare A Kinmar Scarlett Z (Akarad Hero Z x Lys de Darmen - B: Luc Henry & Gerry Marron). She too managed to go clear twice, but needed 28.38 seconds to cross the finish line.

During the opening day on Wednesday, however, a second 1.40m class also took place and in it there was then another podium place for Belgian rider Nicola Philippaerts with the 10-year-old mare Klaartje Z, a daughter of Kannan and Flipper d'Elle from the breeding farm of Ties Raijmakers. They finished in 26.98 seconds after a double clear round and this performance earned them^2nd place in the standings.