MEATH’s Cian O’Connor won Friday’s Yageo-Prize Speed Derby at the world famous CHIO Aachen in Germany.

Riding Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & CO.KG’s Diego, O’Connor was winning the class for the third time, having taken victory in 2016 (Be Gentle) and 2017 (Copain Du Perchet CH). The 11-year-old gelding galloped bravely around the course, through the open water, and a flyer to the last saw the combination beak the beam in 57.62 seconds.

They were almost three seconds clear of runner-up, Germany’s Felix Hassmann with SL Brazonado, to earn €6,500. Waterford’s Peter Moloney also produced a clear round aboard Team Harmony’s Ghana in a time of 62.40 to finish in fifth place.

O’Connor’s nine-year-old PSG Final finished off a successful weekend, where he didn’t touch a pole, when placing seventh in Friday’s 1.60m Table A. The pair finished with a time fault in both rounds to end with a total of two faults and €4,000. Victory went to Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM.

Darragh Kenny rarely leaves a show without a victory these days and Aachen was no different. Riding SHL Farms’ 11-year-old stallion Cazador LS in Wednesday’s 1.45m Table A, Kenny broke the beam in a time of 63.48 seconds when last to go, over three seconds faster than Germany runner-up Andre Thieme and Cellisto.

FOR the second year in-a-row, Darragh Kenny and Jack Synder’s Babalou 41 made it through to the third round of the 1.70m €1 million Rolex Grand Prix. However, victory in one of the most exciting and prestigious classes in the world went to USA’s Kent Farrington and Gazelle, just ahead of home hero Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z.

USA's Kent Farrington won the €1 million Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen with Gazelle \ Rolex

Seven combinations were clear over the first and second rounds to make it through to the jump-off in front of a packed Aachen stadium of 40,000 people, a sell-out crowd. Just as he did 12 months ago when finishing fourth, Kenny guided the 14-year-old mare through to the third round.

Since their success in last year’s class, Babalou has undergone colic surgery and missed out on the 2018 World Equestrian Games as a result. However, she has returned to top form and was flawless in the opening two rounds.

The combination were second to go in the third round but their hopes of victory were dashed when they knocked the second oxer for four faults in a time of 48.04 seconds. Farrington was third last to go and set the standard with the first clear of the jump-off in a blistering time of 43.98 seconds.

The German crowd were hopeful that one of the final two – Simone Blum or Deusser – could beat the American, however, Blum and the amazing DSP Alice were out of luck when the plank fell, leaving them on four faults in fourth place.

Deusser produced the only other treble clear of the competition, but they were just slower in a time of 44.35 seconds to fill second place. Ben Maher had the fastest time of 43.94 but with four faults finished third on the podium.

Farrington collected €330,000 for the victory and is now a live contender for the Grand Slam bonus, while Kenny earned €60,000 in fifth place.

“It is such an impressive list of fantastic riders, who have won the Grand Prix of Aachen. I am so proud to now be one of them!” Farrington, who was second in 2014, said afterwards. Following a tough year in 2018 when he suffered a bad leg break in a fall, he is overjoyed to be back winning at this level.

“It was a pretty bad break and it was a real test of how bad I want to do this, and I took the attitude that I was going to come back stronger than when I left. I hope that I can go back to being number one again, but it takes a really strong team of horses,” he added.