OFFALY’s Darragh Kenny went to Traverse City for the very first time last week and ended it by winning Sunday’s two-star $77,300 Grand Prix aboard Eddy Blue.

The 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek is owned by Kerry McCahill’s Kerry Anne LLC, who owned Kenny’s previous top horse Go Easy de Muze who helped him to his first even five-star Grand Prix win back in 2016.

“I think it’s a really special horse,” Kenny said. “I think it can jump five-star Grands Prix; I think it can win five-star Grands Prix. I’m really excited for the horse. It’s owned by the McCahill family, who actually owned some of my first five-star Grand Prix horses five or six years ago. Now we’re working together again and it’s quite a special thing to have a really good horse from them again.”

With the advantage of going last, Kenny knew exactly what to do with the horse, despite his inexperience at the FEI level. He jumped clear and was two seconds quicker than USA’s Cathleen Driscoll and VDL Salty Blue. Driscoll also claimed third place Flotylla. Kenny also slotted into sixth place with Arna ‘t Kruisveld after eight faults against the clock.

“My horse is actually very green at this level,” Kenny continued of Eddy Blue. “This is the first two-star Grand Prix I’ve jumped him in. I’ve only had him since the end of March but I think he’s a very good horse. He’s really special. I just went as quick as he felt comfortable, and as long as that worked evenly then it was going to be good enough.”