O’Brien runner-up in Florida

IRISH riders were second and third in Wednesday’s opening FEI class at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA.

The second week of competition kicked off at the venue and it is the first week of FEI action with a full roster of three-star classes’ culminating in the $140,000 Southern Arches Grand Prix tonight (Saturday).

Winner

Wednesday’s 1.40m was won by USA’s Jimmy Torano and Chewbacca HCC in 76.09 seconds. They were chased home by Galway’s David O’Brien in second place. O’Brien, who recently went out on his own after a number of years working for Spy Coast Farm, rode Chansonette Farm LLC’s EL Balou Old to a clear round in 76.47 second.

O’Brien’s former colleague, Shane Sweetnam, slotted into third place with his Tokyo Olympic Games mount Alejandro, a 13-year-old Rhinelander gelding by Acorado’s ASS, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, Spy Coast Farm, and Seabrook LLC. They were clear in 76.69.