Darragh Kenny (IRL) has wasted no time getting to know Chaccossini (Chacco-Blue x Cassini ii). The pair scored their second FEI victory Sunday in just their third show together, topping the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic to close week one of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
“Straight away we clicked,” he said about their partnership, having taken over the ride from Martin Fuchs (SUI). “Our first show we won a ranking show already, second show I took him to London – he was clear in a 1.55m and won a big 1.50m class – and this is my third show with him. He’s a cool horse. He’s unbelievably fun and competitive. He also has this huge stride which makes him fast against the clock.”
Nick Granat’s (USA) jump-off course on Sunday almost seemed like it was designed specifically for Chaccossini. He and Kenny were one of 10 to jump clear, but Kenny knew the odds were in his favor with the short course.
“I knew the jump-off class was going to suit him because I could do two things that nobody else could do: [from fences] one to two we were all going to do the same number, but I could do five in that next line which nobody else could do,” Kenny explained of his strategy to rise to the top. “I think one other person maybe did six to the last, so that's where his stride is just so fast.”
Kenny brought a smaller string of horses to Wellington International for the 2025 season, but exceptional quality in the group has him setting big goals. His sights are set on the CSI5* weeks and gaining the qualifying points he needs for the 2025 FEI World Cup™ Final in Basel, Switzerland, before hopefully bringing one of his top horses, Eddy Blue, to the European Championships in the summer.
With a few extra moments in his schedule this winter, Kenny plans to devote his time to his roster of clients, among them young superstars Mimi Gochman and Elena Haas.
“My clients want to build up and get more experience at the higher level which I think they’ll be able to do this winter,” he shared. “It’s a good winter for us because I’m not as busy so I get to spend more time with them. We have a great team of staff and trainers and I think it should be a good winter for us.”
Kenny is pleased to be back in Wellington and stay put for a longer period, but he also knows the level of competition will only rise from an already competitive week one.
“It’s always very, very competitive,” he said of the caliber of competition at WEF. “Everybody gets a little more motivated every year. I think they all come out week one really motivated. All these 1.50m classes are extremely competitive with a lot of good riders and a lot of good horses. That’s the way it’s going to be every week. Everybody was trying [today] and I was just happy it was a good day for me.”
On stage Lillie Keenan followed aboard Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN (Kannan GFE x Nabab de Rêve), while Charlotte Jacobs and Thomascourt Ballypatrick (Balou du Rouet x Indoctro) completed the stage.
“Straight away we clicked,” he said about their partnership, having taken over the ride from Martin Fuchs (SUI). “Our first show we won a ranking show already, second show I took him to London – he was clear in a 1.55m and won a big 1.50m class – and this is my third show with him. He’s a cool horse. He’s unbelievably fun and competitive. He also has this huge stride which makes him fast against the clock.”
Nick Granat’s (USA) jump-off course on Sunday almost seemed like it was designed specifically for Chaccossini. He and Kenny were one of 10 to jump clear, but Kenny knew the odds were in his favor with the short course.
“I knew the jump-off class was going to suit him because I could do two things that nobody else could do: [from fences] one to two we were all going to do the same number, but I could do five in that next line which nobody else could do,” Kenny explained of his strategy to rise to the top. “I think one other person maybe did six to the last, so that's where his stride is just so fast.”
Kenny brought a smaller string of horses to Wellington International for the 2025 season, but exceptional quality in the group has him setting big goals. His sights are set on the CSI5* weeks and gaining the qualifying points he needs for the 2025 FEI World Cup™ Final in Basel, Switzerland, before hopefully bringing one of his top horses, Eddy Blue, to the European Championships in the summer.
With a few extra moments in his schedule this winter, Kenny plans to devote his time to his roster of clients, among them young superstars Mimi Gochman and Elena Haas.
“My clients want to build up and get more experience at the higher level which I think they’ll be able to do this winter,” he shared. “It’s a good winter for us because I’m not as busy so I get to spend more time with them. We have a great team of staff and trainers and I think it should be a good winter for us.”
Kenny is pleased to be back in Wellington and stay put for a longer period, but he also knows the level of competition will only rise from an already competitive week one.
“It’s always very, very competitive,” he said of the caliber of competition at WEF. “Everybody gets a little more motivated every year. I think they all come out week one really motivated. All these 1.50m classes are extremely competitive with a lot of good riders and a lot of good horses. That’s the way it’s going to be every week. Everybody was trying [today] and I was just happy it was a good day for me.”
On stage Lillie Keenan followed aboard Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN (Kannan GFE x Nabab de Rêve), while Charlotte Jacobs and Thomascourt Ballypatrick (Balou du Rouet x Indoctro) completed the stage.