Darragh Kenny wins three-star Grand Prix with Red Star d’Argent

Ireland's good form in week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida continued on Friday night when Darragh Kenny won the three-star Grand Prix with his new ride Red Star d'Argent.

The combination was one of just three to go clear over the first round course designed by Britain’s Richard Jeffery, being joined by two American riders. Sayre Happy retired her mount, Ludwig’s Joker B, in the jump-off round following an early refusal and a lost shoe but Laura Chapot went clear in 39.48 seconds on the Irish Sport Horse mare ISHD Dual Star.

Last to go, Offaly-born Kenny won the class when clear in 39.27 on Red Star d’Argent, an 11-year-old Selle Francais stallion which was previously partnered by Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya.

Meanwhile in Ocala, the Irish team of Shane Sweetnam (Eregast van't Kiezelhof), Cian O'Connor (Sam du Challois), Richie Moloney (Ypaja Yando) and Kevin Babington (Mark Q) finished fifth behind the United States in the Furusiyya FEI Nations' Cup.

Bertram Allen won the featured 1.50m class in Hong Kong on Friday evening on Quainton Stud's Quiet Easy 4. Earlier in the day, the Wexford native had finished fourth in the 1.45m speed competition on board Hector van d'Abdijhoeve and he partnered that grey nine-year-old, owned by Noel Delahunty of Connaught Bloodstock, into third place in Saturday's opening 1.45m winning round class won by Britain's John Whitaker riding Argento.