DERRY’S Daniel Coyle got his show off to a good start when he won Ocala’s four-star $1,000 1.40m two-phase class with Farrel (40.17), when finishing nearly a second and a half ahead of nearest challenger Eve Jobs (USA) on Valentino Tuiliere (41.50). Harry Charles (GBR) on Sherlock placed third in a time of 43.81. There were 27 on the start list with just six jumping double clear.

Coyle then went on to win Thursday’s $1,000 1.35m Jumper class with Lovely Boy P from a class of 21, with a double clear in 30.006.

Placings

Week six of the winter schedule at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, got under way last Wednesday with four Irish conbinations in the top 10 of the two-star $1,000 1.40m two-phase class. Jonathan Corrigan on Ritual Vitseroel finished on the podium in third, followed by Robert Blanchette on Azmir D’Asbo Z in fifth, James Brennan on Q Mosita van Essene in eighth and Corrigan also placed ninth with Nadal VD Wateringhoeve.

Simon McCarthy and Gotcha were a close second in the four-star $32,000 1.45m two-phase special, when they jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 29.25 – they were just 0.3 seconds behind the winner, Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) on Chacco Bumpy, who stopped the clock in 28.95. Israel’s Daniel Bluman completed the podium when taking third place with Kapitaal L (29.66).

Darragh Kerins placed second in the day’s $1,500 1.40m Jumper class with Proud Mary, with one of only two clears in the class.

Richie Moloney and Ermes Di Tai claimed second place in the two-star $65,000 Grand Prix at Ocala \ Andrew Ryback Photography

Thursday’s two-star $32,000 1.40m speed class saw a seventh-place finish for Brennan on Q Mosita van Essene, with Richie Moloney not far behind in ninth on Skelwith Diamond Lady.

McCarthy and Gotcha were back on the podium in the four-star $117,000 qualifier, when they jumped double clear to finish a very close third (32.68) behind class winner Aaron Vale (USA) on Gray’s Inn (31.99) and second placed Bluman (ISR) on Gemma W (32.45). Moloney placed seventh in the class with Coco Beach (36.39).

On Friday, the two-star $32,000 qualifier saw Corrigan on Nadal VD Wateringhoeve finish sixth, followed by Moloney on Daisycutter in ninth, while in the four-star $32,000 1.45m Winning Round, Coyle and Farrel placed ninth.

Coyle placed ninth again in Saturday’s four-star $32,000 1.45m speed class riding Farrel, with Moloney on Rocksy Music right behind in 10th.

Corrigan and Ritual Vitseroel finished third (68.07) in the two-star $10,000 1.40m speed class, followed by Moloney on Daisycutter in fourth (69.27) and Brennan on Q Mosita van Essene in eighth with eight faults in 66.65.

Sunday’s two-star $65,000 Grand Prix saw Moloney take the runner-up spot with Ermes Di Tai (35.89), when finishing a mere 0.02 seconds behind the winner, Eve Jobs (USA) on Ingmar (35.87). Brennan on Scendrio took 10th place.

McCarthy rode Narcotique V/H Dingenshof to take eighth place in the four-star $200,000 Grand Prix, when an unfortunate four faults in the first round prevented them from proceeding to the jump-off. The class was won by Germany’s Andre Thieme on Paule S, who jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 34.11.