Moloney and Blake take wins at four-star Tryon

IRISH riders have now won the feature classes on the first two days of the four-star show in Tryon, North Carolina, with Richie Moloney and David Blake claiming the laurels.

On Wednesday night Kilkenny-born Moloney and Equinimity LLC’s gelding Alsvid opened the third week of international competition at the north American venue with a 10,000 euro win in the 1m45 jump-off competition, the horse’s first major victory this year.

Moloney said afterwards: “He’s just the sweetest horse to work with, and he’s great at these types of classes. We’ll aim for a few more like this with him this season. He never was able to get those wins on the Florida winter circuit and I’m so happy that we were able to get it done today.”

On Thursday, Co. Clare’s David Blake added another Irish win when he and Pine Hollow Farm’s nine year-old gelding Binkie recorded the only double clear round of the 1m50 jump-off Welcome Classic competition to collect an identical amount to Moloney in prize money.

On Friday night, Moloney proved his first win wasn’t just a fluke, when he steered Alsvid to yet another victory, this time in the 1m45 Speed Stakes.

David Blake and Binkie