THE focus of Sunday at the inaugural Masters show in Amenia, New York was undoubtedly the first ever three-star $125,000 1.50m Grand Prix and, with 45 starters, including six Irish, competition was fierce. U.S. course designer Nick Granat had set a challenging track and the time allowed was tight, so just four horses and riders jumped clear within the time allowed to get into the jump-off. Only two of these jumped clear again to take the top two placings – American riders Brian Moggre on Vivre le Reve (33.18) and Sloane Coles on Ninja JW van de Moerhoeve (33.89). Ireland’s Darragh Kenny took the last podium place riding Rockstar, Heathman Farm’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (E Star x C Carnute), incurring four faults in a time of 33.41. The first-ever prize winners of the Silo Ridge Grand Prix concluded the day and the show with a Moët & Chandon champagne spray.

The opening day of the show in Amenia saw a seventh-place finish for Kenny on Eleanor in the $3,000 1.35m class. Friday’s $3,000 1.35m saw a repeat performance for Kenny and Eleanor, but this time they were bettered by fellow Irish man, Stephen Moore and Diva Karef BH, who placed fourth.

The $32,000 three-star 1.45m speed class saw three Irish in the top seven. Co Down’s Conor Swail took both fourth and fifth places with Theo 160 and My Lady Lavista respectively, while Kenny took another seventh place, this time with Serendepety.

Saturday’s $32,000 three-star 1.45m Jumper Classic was dominated by the Irish, with four in the top six placings! The best of these was Philip McGuane, who took the runner-up position with Linguini de la Pomme, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Marius Cladius x Tinka’s Boy), followed by Jordan Coyle on Keep Me With You NC in fourth, Nicky Galligan on Nikita van de Leeuwerk in fifth and Swail on Theo 160 in sixth.

Very speedy rounds

From 44 starters, 14 jumped a clear first round and got through to the jump-off. Only four of those were clear again, with the fastest being McLain Ward (USA) on La Serra in 35.95 seconds to win. McGuane did his best and stopped the clock only 0.4 seconds behind in 36.35 to take second place. Third went to Mark Bluman (COL) on S&L Maracana (36.79), with Coyle in fourth in 39.98. Galligan and Swail both clocked very speedy rounds, but four faults apiece left them in fifth and sixth places. Kenny and Serendepety had to settle for ninth place this time.

Lexington

Cork’s Simon McCarthy continued his run of US-form over the weekend, when competing at the Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour in Lexington. Friday evening saw the 29-year-old finish second in the three-star $35,000 1.45m Welcome class with Narcotique v/h Dingenshof.

From a start list of 40, 15 jumped clear in the first round to get into the jump-off, with two withdrawing. Seven combinations managed to jump double clear, with McCarthy’s time of 36.31 not quite fast enough to beat Alex Granato (USA) on Helios VD Nosahoeve (35.73). Spain’s Francisco Goyoaga Mollet on Onatella VD Vinkhoeve took third (37.20), with Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam just missing out on a podium place to finish fourth in 37.24.

Sunday saw the three-star $100,000 1.50m Grand Prix being held, with a strong Irish entry, three of whom finished in the top eight – namely McCarthy on Narcotique v/h Dingenshof in fifth; Darragh Kerins on Lissino in sixth and Sweetnam on Paulien Dwerse Hagen in eighth. Grand Prix glory went to Canada’s Chris Pratt on Ideaal ES.

Tryon

Friday saw victory for Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney on Daisycutter in the two-star $6,000 1.45m Speed Stake at the two-star show at Tryon International Equestrian Centre, when jumping the only clear round in the class.

Moloney had finished in the runner-up spot in the $6,000 1.40m two-phase class on Thursday on board Ermes Di Tai, when they jumped double clear, but just couldn’t catch Kristen Vanderveen on Bull Run’s Jericho, who ran away with the class in 32.97.

The Irish pair claimed a top five finish in Saturday’s $70,000 1.45m Grand Prix.