Darragh Kenny hits top form ahead of today’s Florida Nations Cup with five-star Grand Prix win

Offaly-born Darragh Kenny and the 11-year-old gelding Cassini Z last night (Saturday) scored their second Grand Prix win in the space of three weeks, this time taking the top prize in the $35,000 HITS Classic at Ocala’s five-star Nations Cup show in Florida, USA.

Darragh Kenny and Cassini Z (Photo: Sportfot)

One of seven riders through to the jump-off, Kenny guided Cassini Z to what proved a winning clear round against the clock in 35.64 seconds. They finished just over a second ahead of German runner-up Wilhelm Genn with Bugatti, while Brazil’s Yuri Mansur finished third with Vitiki.

Kenny and Cassini Z, who is owned by Ann Thompson, also won the $132,000 Adequan Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida back in January.

Darragh Kenny will be hoping his good form continues in this evening’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup in Ocala, where he rides Go Easy De Muze. Ireland’s Development Team Manager Michael Blake yesterday named his team which also includes Daniel Coyle (Cita), Paul O’Shea (Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu) and Cian O’Connor with Clenur.

Ireland have been drawn first to jump of six teams in the competition which gets underway in Ocala at 6pm Irish time.