GALWAY’S Michael Duffy had a very successful weekend in Ocala, Florida, with a win and several placings on various horses. Sunday saw Duffy take the runner-up position in the two-star $65,000 Grand Prix riding RMF Cinnamo. There were 24 starters in the class, nine of whom jumped clear and proceeded to the jump-off. Six managed to keep a clean sheet in round two, with Duffy’s time of 40.24 only being bettered by Brazil’s Eduardo Menezes on Calypso Des Matis (37.78).

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Week five of the winter programme at the World Equestrian Centre in Ocala, Florida kicked off last Wednesday and saw Duffy place eighth in the four-star $1,000 1.40m two-phase class on board BE Sky Hawk.

Duffy got Thursday off to a great start when he rode RMF Cinnamo to win the two-star $32,000 1.40m speed class from a start list of 32. Duffy jumped clear in a time of 64.55 seconds, to beat Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire on Vogue, who was second in 64.92.

In the subsequent four-star $117,000 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier, Duffy on BE Sky Hawk placed seventh, jumping double clear in a jump-off time of 40.08. The class was won by Kristen Vanderveen (USA) on Bull Run’s Jireh (37.73).

James Brennan on More Special placed eighth in the day’s $1,000 1.35m class and claimed fourth place with Godess Hero Z in Friday’s $1,000 1.35m class.

On Saturday, Brennan finished on the podium in the two-star $10,000 1.45m class on board Q Mosita Van Essene, when they were among five first-round clears. Brennan placed third with four faults in the jump-off.

Duffy and BE Sky Hawk finished eighth in the four-star $200,000 class, which was won by Colombia’s Ilan Bluman on Acajou. Duffy picked up four faults in the first round, in a class where only four jumped clear to get into the jump-off and there were only two double clears.