THERE was Irish success at Wellington’s four-star show in Florida, USA, over the weekend, for both horses and riders.

Out of 30 starters in Sunday’s $39,000 Dover Saddlery 1.50m class, there were just five combinations with clear rounds, who made it through to the jump-off. Among those were Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam riding Irandole Du Flot and Simon McCarthy riding Gotcha.

Over a testing jump-off course, Sweetnam and Lebanon’s Jad Dana on board ABC Quantum Cruise (ISH) were the only two to jump clear again, but Sweetnam’s time of 35.65 seconds was slightly slower than Dana’s winning time of 34.09 seconds. McCarthy incurred four faults in a time of 33.64 seconds to claim third place.

Shane Sweetnam riding Irandole Du Flot, who came second in Sunday's $39,000 Dover Saddlery 1.50m class at Wellington \ Cassidy Klein

The winner, 14-year-old gelding ABC Quantum Cruise (ISH), was bred in Co Carlow by Patrick Kehoe and is by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser (ISH), by Cruising (ISH).

Last Thursday, November 30th, saw David O’Brien and El Balou OLD secure third place for Ireland in the $50,000 CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix qualifier, being one of only four double clears in the class, while Conor O’Regan and Mendini DR took fourth place in the $6,000 1.40m class.

Friday, December 1st, saw Simon McCarthy and Gotcha place fourth in the $39,000 1.45m Speed class and on Saturday, Dylan Daly placed 10th with SYL Century in the $5,000 1.35m class.