Darragh Kenny and Chaccossini Dominate Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic

Darragh Kenny and Chaccossini Dominate Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic

Darragh Kenny (IRL) has wasted no time getting to know Chaccossini. 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). Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.

Kenny pilots the 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Chacco-Blue x Cassini II) for owner Andrzej Oplatek, and the Irish Olympian knew the horse was something special right out of the gate.

“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.”

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Darragh Kenny and Chaccossini Dominate Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic



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