Ireland's bid to win the Samsung Nations Cup final got off to a fairly subdued start in Rome yesterday, with the riders opting for a gradual build-up to tomorrow's team decider.
Despite the understandably cautious approach to the last-minute tune-up, with the team aiming to add the final honours to the record 10 victories already notched up in the Samsung series, Cameron Hanley was in the money yesterday, finishing sixth in the two-phase with his Kerrygold Grand Prix winner Ballaseyr Twilight.
Dermott Lennon just missed out on a share in the prizefund from the earlier speed class, opting for a slow clear with the Touchdown mare Liscalgot that left him 10th overall. But he had no joy in the main jump-off class when his other mare Garronturton Lady, which usually takes a few classes to get into gear, kicked out three fences.
Neal Fearon, who has signed a two-year sponsorship contract with Dutch real estate firm Eurocommerce, also failed to find a slot in the timed round with a single mistake from Polly Pockets.
He was then joined on the four-fault tally by team mates Cameron Hanley (Ballaseyr Olympic) and Kevin Babington (Carling King), who both hit the last fence.
But 15 did make it through to the jump-off, with the honours eventually going to 28-year-old Frenchman Olivier Guillon and the former Xavier Caumont ride, Baladine du Mesnil. Guillon took over the ride on the mare less than two months ago, but the combination looked well cemented as they sailed to a convincing victory by more than a second from America's Leslie Howard.
The Americans won the first Samsung final in 1997, but got into this year's decider on a wild card as the best ranked non-European country. However, Irish chef d'equipe Tommy Wade believes the Americans will pose the strongest threat to Ireland's hopes, although he is far from optimistic that his quartet can make the grade tomorrow.
"We have a pretty inexperienced squad," he said at the Piazza di Siena yesterday. "The Americans will be the ones to watch."
But his view of the Germans, current world, European and Olympic champions, was less complimentary, even though the team boasts brothers Ludger and Markus Beerbaum and Markus' American-born wife, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.
"Well they had three Beerbaums in Calgary, didn't they and we still beat them!"
Dutchman Marc Houtzager, winner of the two-phase class yesterday afternoon, is of a different opinion and believes there is only one team to watch at the 2000 Samsung finals.
"The only strong team here is Ireland," he said. "I was in Calgary and the Irish beat the Dutch there. This time I'd like to see it the other way round."
