The Dublin Stakes for the award of the Wylie Perpetual Trophy (CSIO5* – 1.50m – Table A with Jump-Off – €56,800) delivered a thrilling afternoon of sport at the RDS, with only the very best securing their place in the decisive jump-off.

From the start, the technical track proved a real challenge. Of the 51 combinations on the start list, 10 retired and 7 withdrew, underlining the difficulty of the course set for this prestigious class. With qualification to the jump-off reserved exclusively for those jumping clear in the first round, the pressure was high.

Irishman Jordan Coyle, already a winner on Thursday in the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes (CSIO5* – 1.60m – Table A with Jump-Off) aboard Millview Cicero, had the honour of opening the competition. But despite a fast round, one rail down kept him out of contention.

It wasn’t until the tenth rider, Laura Kraut (USA) on Emeraldo 4, that the first clear was recorded, drawing a huge cheer from the crowd. The class remained tough, with faults coming thick and fast. Adrian Whiteway (GBR) and BP Baxteralso managed a faultless round but incurred a costly single time fault, leaving them out of the jump-off.

Canada’s Kyle Timm (Glamour du Chanu) broke through with a clear to open the doors to the jump-off, soon joined by Bertram Allen (IRL) on Qonquest de Rigo, Willem Greve (NED) on Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs, Niamh McEvoy(IRL) on Flora du Mesnil, and Jason Smith (NZL) on Picobello van’t Roosakker.

In the end, only seven combinations earned their spot, and with Bertram Allen choosing not to start in order to save his horse for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix, six returned for the jump-off.

Jump-Off Drama

Laura Kraut set the tone as first to go, opting for a bold pace but catching a rail for 4 faults. Kyle Timm followed, but two rails down dashed his hopes.

Then came Willem Greve, delivering a flawless double clear in 37.08 seconds, shooting to the top of the leaderboard and putting pressure on the remaining contenders.

Young Irish talent Tom Wachman, in sensational form this week, kept his home crowd roaring with another double clear in 37.33 seconds, slotting into provisional second.

But Niamh McEvoy and Flora du Mesnil had other plans. Riding with precision and speed, she stopped the clock at 35.75 seconds, seizing the lead in emphatic fashion.

Last to go, Jason Smith produced a smooth clear in 37.19 seconds, good enough to claim the final podium spot.

Final Results – Dublin Stakes (CSIO5* – 1.50m – Table A with Jump-Off)
🥇 Niamh McEvoy (IRL) – Flora du Mesnil – 0/0 – 35.75s
🥈 Willem Greve (NED) – Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs – 0/0 – 37.08s
🥉 Jason Smith (NZL) – Picobello van’t Roosakker – 0/0 – 37.19s

The win marked a special moment for McEvoy, who has been steadily climbing the international ranks. With Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland looming, the home crowd will be hoping Irish riders can carry this momentum into the week’s most prestigious class.