GRAND PRIX:GIRL POWER ruled in yesterday's Longines International €130,000 Grand Prix when German-based Jessica Kürten with Lady Georgina Forbes's mare Castle Forbes Libertina achieved her childhood dream of winning the highly coveted class in a grand finale to the 2008 Horse Show.
From 39 starters with nine riders returning for a jump-off, Kürten polished off the opposition with a stunning double clear, the only one of the competition, to collect a cheque for €42,000 and the Longines Trophy.
A jubilant Kürten was a favourite of the home crowd. "I have dreamt of this ever since I was a kid. I felt the crowd was behind me. Today I didn't want to let anyone down in Ireland. Libertina sparkled. The course was very strong with square oxers, horses had to gallop at it and there was no time to set up your horse. The time was tight.
"Libertina was strong and sensitive to the atmosphere. I didn't take any amazing risks in the second round, we had the double of ditches and when the rain came on, I tried to tie a knot in my reins in case they got slippy but I had to undo it."
Although Niall Talbot had the first clear in the Grand Prix opening round with Tequi D'I Ch, he was unfortunate in the second to have four faults in 64.28 for fifth place.
Up-and-coming young Egyptian Abdel Said on Team Harmony Sky High had four faults in round one but crowned his Dublin visit with a stunning second round clear in 61.70 to occupy fourth place.
Fifth to jump Alois Pollman Schweckhorst on Lord Luis, who provided great mirth by bucking between fences, managed to steady up and have no poles down in the second round but incurred one time fault. This required Belgian Patrick Spits and his home-bred Withney Van De Dwerse Hagen to push if he was to match his opening round clear.
Spits left the door open for Kürten after he incurred a time fault and the Co Antrim woman as last to jump took advantage, striding into the ring with Libertina in top form.
With her mane flowing, Libertina never missed a trick and the daughter of 1994 World Cup winning stallion Libero answered every question as Kürten urged her over the final oxer.