DARRAGH Kenny came out on top at the three-star Kentucky Spring Horse show as he returned for the second consecutive year to claim victory in the $134,000 three-star Grand Prix in Lexington, USA.

Riding Babalou 41, he proved fastest in the seven-way jump-off, when stopping the clock in 47.84 seconds. Babalou 41, who is owned by Jack Snyder missed out on last year’s World Equestrian Games after undergoing emergency colic surgery.

USA’s Margie Engle and Royce set the standard in the seven-horse jump-off, designed by Brazil’s Anderson Lima, when breaking the beam in 48.90 seconds. Two horses later, Kenny entered with the 14-year-old Balou du Rouet mare. The mare’s naturally quick pace and ability to take slick turns set them up to end on a quick time of 47.84 seconds, nearly a full second faster than Engle.

Last to go, Ali Wolff (USA) and Casall tried hard to better Kenny’s time, however she fell just half a second short, finishing on a time of 48.26 to take runner-up spot, while Engle would finish third.

Speaking afterwards, Kenny said: “Babalou [41] is just so naturally fast. She was great and she jumped fantastic in the jump-off. She is just so naturally fast and she knows how to run and jump. She’s had great success in this ring for a long time so I’ve been very happy that she was so good today too.

“After her win in last year’s Grand Prix, she was amazing through the summer but unfortunately she had colic surgery and we spent the whole winter working to get her back to her best again. She finally feels like she’s there.

“It’s nice to have her back to her old self again. Next she will jump two weeks in Spruce Meadows in both Grand Prix classes and then I will aim her for the Grand Prix in Aachen [Germany] again [where we finished fourth last year],” the Offaly native added.

ANOTHER BIG WIN

Kenny ended a week of jumping with a win in the $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix on Sunday aboard Vlock Show Stables’ Scarlett Du Sart Z.

First to go in the jump-off with the nine-year-old Zangersheide mare, he set the bar high when clocking 37.08 seconds, a time that could not be touched by the six other competitors.

Mexico’s Eugenio Garza and Pappa Ante Portas were second to go and although the pair finished clear, their time of 39.08 could not touch Kenny’s and slotted him into second place. Not content with the win, Kenny took third place with Sweet Tricia, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood, when stopping the clock in 40.09 seconds.

Earlier in the week, Kenny got his campaign off to a good start when he took fourth place in the $36,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic 1.45m. Riding Romeo 88, he delivered a double clear in 38.08 seconds.

Victory went to 17-year-old USA rider Brian Moggre with MTM Vivre Le Reve. Shane Sweetnam also kept the poles in place with Kirschwasser SCF, but their time of 40.88 saw him finish down the line in eighth place.

Sweetnam and Kenny also featured in the $36,000 Welcome Speed CSI3*. Sweetnam was best of the Irish, when he delivered a clear with Palina De L’escaut in 63.95 seconds for eventual fourth.

Kenny finished seventh with Romeo 88.

Kenny had taken first, second and fifth place in the opening $5,000 1.45m. First to go, riding the Artisan Farms LLC’s Christos, he left one stride out in the first line of the second round, resulting in a speedy leading time of 42.50 seconds.

Returning with the SHL Farm-owned Sweet Tricia, he delivered another clear in 42.539 seconds, which would see him secure the runner-up place.

Andrew Welles tried hard to take the lead with Itasca Group LLC’s Brindis Bogibo, but a time of 42.55 seconds, meant he had to settle for third. Kenny added to his tally when he partnered SHL Farm’s Cazador LS to a clear in 43.94 for fifth.