MAYO’s Michael G. Duffy (24) landed one of the biggest victories of his career to date when galloping to victory in the four-star Grand Prix at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.

The Knockmore native, who rides for fellow Mayo man Carl Hanley at his base in Germany, was over the moon to win aboard the Irish Sport Horse gelding Lappucino 2 who he has ridden for six years.

By Livello, Lappucino was bred in Co Galway by Hanley’s father-in-law Sven Kapp, out of the mare Cabaret III who was jumped internationally by the breeder’s daughter, Nadja Kapp Hanley.

“I adore him,” Duffy commented afterwards. “Lapuccino has been with me for five or six years’ now and each year he improves and he has taken us competing all over the world. Today he jumped his heart out for me to win this Grand Prix and he is a very special horse for me.”

Spanish course designer Elena Boix Gracia built a big testing 1.55m track for a startlist of 60 competitors, with some of the best riders in the world lining out, including world number one Steve Guerdat (Switzerland).

Jump-off

Eight of those managed to leave all the fences standing, but two incurred one time fault to miss out on a place in the jump-off. Britain’s Joseph Stockdale set the standard when first to go with a clear round in 44.75 seconds with Cacharel.

But Duffy had the class in his sights and, despite not taking any major gambles, he crossed the finish beams almost two seconds faster in 42.86 seconds to take victory with the only other clear round of the day.

Guerdat posted the fastest time of the competition aboard Albfuehren’s Maddox but four faults meant he had to settle for third place, ahead of Belgium’s Jerome Guery who too posted a fast time (41.42) with his top mount Quel Homme de Hus.

Duffy scooped the top prize of €23,725 for first place. Speaking about his round, he said: “The course was very difficult, even with top-level riders competing, only six combinations got through the first round with no faults. There were faults from the horses all the way around the course, which is the mark of a good job being done by the course designer.

“I didn’t do anything stupid in there [in the jump-off]. I rode the whole course fast and in the last line I pushed that bit harder and that’s where I think I made up the time.”