IRELAND’S Philip McGuane had a fantastic Friday at Wellington International in Florida, when he rode Orphea HQ to victory in the three-star $62,500 1.50m WEF Challenge Cup Round VI, a qualifying class for the $140,000 KASK CSI3* Grand Prix on Saturday.

There was a large start list of 67 horses and riders taking on the course, designed by Mexico’s Anna Catalina ‘Catsy’ Cruz on the grass derby field. From these, 12 combinations jumped clear in the first round, with nine taking part in the jump-off, including McGuane and fellow Irishman, Tom Wachman riding Lazzaro Delle Schiave.