Limerick’s Paul O’Shea wins $225,000 Kentucky Grand Prix

Irish riders were once again in top form across the Atlantic in the early hours of this morning (Sunday), with Limerick’s Paul O’Shea claiming victory in the $225,000 Kentucky Invitational Grand Prix.

The Kentucky Invitational three-star Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, was part of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and attracted a crowd of more than 10,000 spectators to watch what proved a thrilling competition.

Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu soared over the last fence to win the $225,000 Kentucky Invitational CSI3* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (Photo: Michelle Dunn)

O’Shea, riding Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, was one of three Irish riders who made it into the jump-off. The Limerick rider was the last to go in the second round and hoping to better a blazing fast performance by Mexico’s Eugenio Garza with Armani SI Z who jumped clear in 42.42. Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu left all the fences up, and galloped over the final fence to stop the clock in 41.91 giving the Irishman the win.

“I tried to go as fast as I could and leave all the jumps up,” O’Shea said of his winning strategy. “I didn’t really (get to see the others) to be honest, so I tried to go as good as I could and ‘Machu’ was incredible. He couldn’t have jumped any better, he was just fantastic.”

Eugenio Garza of Mexico and Armani SI Z finished second and Rowan Willis of Australia and Blue Movie finished third. Derry’s Daniel Coyle finish in eighth place with Farrel, while Co Down’s Conor Swail filled tenth place with GK Coco Chanel.

Dr. Laura Werner and Dr. Liz Barrett of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute with the top three finishers in the $225,000 Kentucky Invitational CSI3* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (Photo: Michelle Dunn)