Like benign Conquistadores, the Mexican team won both the coveted golden Aga Khan and the hearts of the Irish crowd at Friday’s Longines FEI Dublin Nations Cup. Repeatedly during the gruelling event, the men from south of the border looked to the packed Anglesea Stand for encouragement and got more and more of the Ballsbridge roar. Even as they stood on the winner’s podium, they turned to face the old stand and the response of appreciation was deafening.

“From the time we got the invitation to come here for the first time in 37 years we never stopped dreaming of this and now it is a dream come true. We want to come back again,” they declared at their press conference of joy.

Like embodiments of their great countryman and Olympic champion at London in 1948 Humberto Mariles Cortes, the Eddie Macken-trained team of Eugenio Perez, Federico Fernandez, Patricio Pasquel and Enrique Gonzalez delivered crucial clears or fours toward the eventual victory over Ireland, Italy and France, who shared second place.

“This is a REAL horse show. Other shows are not. This IS a REAL horse show,” declared Enrique Gonzalez, who with elbows flying gave the Mexicans their final clear to seal victory.

Brilliant Irish first round

With the wind of five straight wins during the two previous days at their back, the Irish were the first round’s dominant force. Clears from Shane Sweetnam, Mark McAuley and Cameron Hanley left them convincing leaders at the break. However, on the return surprises were in store. Fours from Sweetnam, Paul O’Shea and Cameron Hanley, plus refusals for Mark McAuley, suddenly turned the leader board on its head. Course builder Alan Wade gave this brief, laconic explanation: “Some horses just react in the second round as they know where they are going.”

Final leg

With just the last five horses left to jump; France, Mexico, Italy, and Ireland were all tied on eight faults. France and Italy went out. Enrique Gonzalez produced his crowd pleasing clear and it was down to Ireland’s Cameron Hanley to force a jump-off.

When the middle part of the treble fell from a touch by Quirex, it was Mexico fiesta time that began with four romping laps of honour before an adoring crowd. “Joy” was how Mexico’s Belgian chef d’equipe Stanny van Paesschen summed it all up.

“Great sport,” declared RDS CEO Michael Duffy. And Minister for Sport Shane Ross was moved to declare “a great day to be here”. It sure was.