The atmosphere inside the RDS Main Arena crackled with anticipation for the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, the highlight of the Dublin Horse Show. Forty world-class combinations lined up for this Grand Prix, but the demanding track left little room for error. Against a field laden with Olympic and World Championship medallists, it was America’s Laura Kraut and her lightning-fast mare Bisquetta (Bisquet Balou van de Mispelaere) who reigned supreme in 73.97 seconds.
Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom (Vagabond De La Pomme) looked poised for a top finish with a blistering pace of 73.61 seconds, but a single fence down kept them from threatening Kraut’s lead. Ireland’s own Shane Sweetnam brought the crowd to its feet aboard James Kann Cruz (Kannan), but a rail and a time of 74.39 seconds meant he had to settle for third.
German veteran Christian Ahlmann piloted Blueberry (Conrad) with trademark precision, yet their four faults in 74.72 seconds kept them just shy of the podium’s upper steps. Completing the top five was Donald Whitaker of Great Britain, riding Millfield Colette (Cornet Obolensky) to a smooth and efficient 74.85 seconds, likewise marred by one rail.
Laura Kraut: “The Dublin Horse Show is one of those bucket list events — my husband Nick Skelton won it five times — so I’m absolutely thrilled. Alan Wade built a course that was careful but fair, and you had to be perfect to go clear. I was lucky to go late, which gave me the chance to study the others and decide exactly what I wanted to do. Bisquetta was ready and brilliant. She’s very brave, very careful, and this year she’s stepped up to another level. She has her quirks — she is terrified of other horses’ tails — but none of it affects her in the ring. In the stable she is sweet, and after today she might just become even more of a princess.”
