Ireland's Cameron Hanley, hero at Hickstead a fortnight ago when he won the King George V Gold Cup, added his name to the RDS record books yesterday when he claimed the £66,000 Kerrygold Grand Prix with Ballaseyr Twilight.
The Co Mayo-born rider, who is based with Peter Charles in Hampshire having taken up the post as top jockey with Ballaseyr Stables in May, was one of just four through to the jump-off, having survived the tricky first round.
Drawn second of the quartet, 27-year-old Hanley had Frenchman Michel Hecart's target of a clear in 42.54 to aim at, and he positively slaughtered it, slicing off almost three seconds to surge into the lead with the roars of the crowd ringing in his ears as he left the arena.
Belgium's Philippe Lejeune gave it his best shot with the 10-year-old stallion Nabab de Reve, but the front rail plummeted off the blue and white oxer next to the water jump and the Hanley supporters could breathe again.
And there wasn't long to wait for the breath-stopping brigade as, last one in, Schuyler Reilly kicked out the first with Ilian and the partisan crowd was already celebrating a hugely popular Irish victory as the American girl picked up another four going into the double to drop to fourth behind Hecart and Lejeune.
It was a perfect finish to a perfect week for Irish show-jumping following the thrilling home victory in Friday's Aga Khan, but it was also a sensational result for Irish breeding. Ballaseyr Twilight is by Philip Heenan's late great sire of show-jumpers, Clover Hill, and was bred in Co Wicklow by Betty Parker who was on hand to see her horse winning.
Hanley's triumph was also special for Irish chef d'equipe Tommy Wade, who had owned the horse when he jumped with Francis Connors under the name Sure Coin. Wade had watched from the sidelines in Hickstead when Hanley claimed the King George two weeks ago and, in a strange twist of fate, Wade had also done the King's Cup/Dublin Grand Prix double back in 1963 with the overgrown pony Dundrum.
"The King's Cup was a dream come true," Hanley said after yesterday's victory. "But to win in front of your home crowd is something special. After Hickstead I thought there was nothing he couldn't jump; now I know it!"