WATERFORD show jumper Peter Moloney scored a fantastic win in last Sunday’s four-star Grand Prix at the Spanish Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera.

Riding Team Harmony’s 14-year-old Ornellaia, Moloney was one of just five starters who managed to progress to the jump-off in the 50 horse class after jumping a perfect clear in round one.

Moloney’s time of 43.25 seconds was the best of three clears against the clock to scoop the top prize of €23,325. Billy Twomey also qualified for the jump-off with Lady Lou, but four faults against the clock meant he finished in fifth place.

The runner-up position went to Switzerland’s Carlo Pfyffer and Intermezzo (0/0 44.10), ahead of Sweden’s Fredrik Jönsson and his world championship mount Cold Play (0/0 44.31).

A five-star winner under Britain’s John Whitaker, Ornellaia has just recently joined Moloney’s string of horses, having spent some time under Finland’s Anna-Julia Kontio, with who she won the four-star Rouen Grand Prix in November.

Speaking afterwards, a delighted Moloney said: “The mare felt amazing. This was my first show with her. I just jumped the small class with her on Thursday, jumped the ranking class on Friday and jumped clear and I decided not to go in the jump-off and it paid off today.

“It feels really good, she hasn’t jumped since November and she is new to me, we are still trying to figure her out and this was an amazing result. We might just put this mare away now until [the Invitational GP at the end of the tour]. She’s quite experienced and we’ve learned a lot now this weekend.”

Paying credit to his owners and the background staff, Moloney added: It’s very easy for me, I just do the steering. I have a massive team around me. Obviously Princess Haya and Team Harmony – without them it wouldn’t be possible to be here with these fantastic horses. It is pretty much the dream job, you couldn’t ask for anymore!

HOWLEY WIN

Following on from his Grand Prix victory last week, Richard Howley won the 1.45m speed class on Sunday aboard the Cruisings Micky Finn-sired 11-year-old mare Cruising Star. His time of 56.17 was the fastest of 25 clear rounds in the class, ahead of Britain’s Max Routledge in second and Holly Smith in third with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Claddagh Iroko (Iroko x Cruising).

Greg Broderick enjoyed a number of wins at the venue. His top mount Dabelle won a 1.30m on Friday, before finishing second in Sunday’s medium tour 1.45m Grand Prix. Broderick was one of six double clears in the class and finished just behind USA’s Taylor Alexander and Ryanair de Riverland.

Broderick landed two victories with Rosalie Biedron’s 12-year-old gelding Charmeur. The first of those came in Friday’s 1.35m, followed by a win in the same class on Sunday. The combination also finished second in Saturday’s class.