O’Connor snatches Live Oak Grand Prix after jump-off battle with Madden

ONLY Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and America’s world-ranked number eight Beezie Madden made it through to the jump-off in the Live Oak international Grand Prix in Florida tonight, but O’ Connor snatched the 12,000 euro trophy when Madden faulted once in the final round.

Picking up a zero score in the jump-off was a notable achievement for O’Connor and Adena Springs’s stallion Good Luck, for the horse is not only new to O’Connor but is also just nine years old. Madden was riding the more experienced 13 year-old bay mare Vanilla, a horse she has been campaigning since 2011.

Madden and O’Connor were the only two riders at the Ocala venue to emerge with a clean sheet from a first round starting field of 46, but the Meath-based Olympic Bronze medallist had spectators on their feet when he finished with the only double clear round of the two-star World Cup Grand Prix.

O’Connor also won the Welcome Speed Stakes at Live Oak on Friday, riding the mare Quidam’s Cherie.

Cian O’Connor and Good Luck