Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney wins $300,000 Hampton Classic in the USA

Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney scored one of his biggest career wins to date, taking victory in tonight’s (Sunday) $300,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix at Bridgehampton in New York.

Moloney (pictured) and the 13-year-old stallion Carrabis Z (owned by Equinimity LLC), were one of five combinations to make it into the second round jump-off. Drawn fourth to go against the clock, the pair produced a stunning clear round in 39.57 seconds to push America’s Charlie Jacobs and Cassinja S into second. Last to go, Andrew Welles (USA) and Brindis Bogibo, couldn’t beat the Irish riders time and had to settle for third place.

Moloney collected a winners prize of just short of $100,000, while his performance also saw him grab another $30,000 as Longines leading rider of the New York fixture.

The Hampton Classic has been a lucky show for Moloney in the past, having finished third in the same competition in 2014 behind Irish winner Kevin Babington. Tipperary-born Babington finished ninth in tonight’s competition with the 11-year-old mare Shorapur.