McGuigan takes victory for Ireland in Florida Grand Prix

IN THE early hours of this morning (Sunday) Ireland’s Ronan McGuigan won the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix in Florida against a strong international field.

The 39 year-old from Omagh in Co. Tyrone, was piloting his own ten year-old gelding Capall Zidane, and left all the poles up in the first round to qualify for the jump-off under floodlights at the two-star Palm Beach venue.

His second round against eight other combinations saw the Irish rider deliver a scorching time of 39.92, which proved unbeatable, leaving the Tyrone man holding the winner’s trophy.

Afterwards he said of the horse: “I’ve had him since he was a five-year-old. I bought him at the Hendrix auction, and I actually never went to try him. I just bought him off a DVD. When I bought him, all of my Irish pals called him the ‘internet horse,’ but I had the last laugh tonight. He has been very consistent since I’ve had him.”

McGuigan has lived in the USA for 12 years and is based in New Jersey, where he owns a farm.

Watch the video interview with Ronan McGuigan HERE