Moloney wins USA Grand Prix, Kenny third in Switzerland

IRELAND has had two Grand Prix successes in the last 24 hours, with Richie Moloney victorious at the new four-star show in Tryon, North Carolina, and Darragh Kenny claiming third place this afternoon (Sunday) at Switzerland’s five-star competition at St. Gallen.

Kilkenny-born Moloney, riding Equinimity LLC’s stallion Carrabis Z, was last man to enter the arena in the seven horse jump-off last night, and managed to shave just under a second off the leading time set by the USA’s Ali Wolff and the gelding Casall.

Moloney, who collected 40,000 euro for his win said afterwards of Carrabis Z: “He’s a really sensitive horse and sometimes the shorter distances can be difficult for him. This is the fastest he’s ever gone for me. The course suited him and the long gallop to the last fence really made it an exciting finish. He tries really hard and if he rubs a rail, he will not be anywhere close to the next fence.”

Moloney and his team will stay in North Carolina for the upcoming Tryon Summer Series that begins on June 24.  With several top horses, Moloney will look to capitalize on the several weeks of FEI sanctioned competition at the venue in the coming summer months.

Ireland’s David Blake and Binkie placed tenth in the Tryon Grand Prix, with one fence down in the first round.

Meanwhile at the five-star Grand Prix in St. Gallen, Switzerland, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny picked up 30,000 euro for his third place in the Longines Grand Prix this afternoon. Riding Caroline Lloyd’s chestnut gelding Sans Soucis Z, Kenny was one of 13 combinations to make it to the jump-off from a field of 50 starters, but finished two seconds off the pace of new Swiss star Romain Duguet aboard the mare Quorida de Treho. World number four rider, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, was second with the talented Nino Des Buissonnets.

Greg Broderick, whose double clear round with the Irish Sport Horse Mhs Going Global helped Ireland finish third in the Swiss Nations’ Cup on Friday, missed out on qualification for the Grand Prix jump-off with a time fault that left him just 0.6 of a second shy of making the cut.

Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z winning the Tryon Grand Prix