IT was an all-Irish podium in the three-star $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.50m Grand Prix in Lexington, USA last Sunday, with Sligo’s Darragh Kerins taking the top spot ahead of Shane Sweetnam and Daniel Coyle.

Some 32 combinations lined out over the Bernardo Costa Cabral-designed track with eight producing a first round clear. Kerins was first to go against the clock with Eve Jobs’ Valentino Tuiliere (Diamant de Semilly x Silvio). His blazing time of 38.49 seconds saw him set the standard and no one would be able to catch him, earning the pair the top prize of $25,000.

Sweetnam came closest to the time with his own, Seabrook LLC, and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Alejandro (Acorado’s Ass X Continue) in 39.09 to finish in second place, and over a full second in front of Coyle with Jeffrey Jarden (Bustique x Warrant), owned by Ariel Grange, in third (0/0 39.63).

There was one Irish Sport Horse in the top seven – the Harold McGahern bred Rincoola Milsean under USA’s Charlotte Jacobs who has just returned to America after a summer training with Greg Broderick at Ballypatrick Stables in Tipperary. The nine-year-old by Aldatus Z is out of the great mare Rincoola Abu (Cruising).

“For the last few months, this horse has just been jumping unbelievable, but I always end up just short in second or third [place],” said Kerins of the 13-year-old gelding that he twice rode to second place in the $50,000 Welcome CSI3* during each week of this year’s Autumn series. “The horse really deserved the win today.” Valentino Tuiliere was produced by Mark McAuley before being sold to Jobs.

Kerins’s runner-up finish in Friday’s 1.45m jump-off came to Sweetnam who landed victory with Alejandro. In a 13-horse jump-off, Sweetnam was the fastest eight clear rounds by almost two seconds, breaking the beam in 34.87 to win $12,500. Kerins was second in 36.44 and also took fifth place with Lissino, clear in 37.94.