Irish riders filled four of the top 10 places in last Saturday night’s $401,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida.

Cian O’Connor was the top Irish rider after he steered the Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny to a third place finish. This was the nine-year-old’s five-star Grand Prix debut. He was bred by Sinead Brennan in Co Kilkenny.

O’Connor only got Kilkenny last September, so Saturday night’s competition was a tough test for the duo.

“It was really a night of firsts for me [and him]; first time under the lights, first time [in a] five star, first time jumping water in the big competition, so I didn’t really know what to expect. When I walked the course, I thought it was a very difficult test,” said O’Connor afterwards.

“The verticals were very tall. I must say the course was nice. This time of year, we’re all just getting up and running and the combinations were fair and Alan [Wade] did a super job with the course. I’m just thrilled with the horse.

“He was only half a second off my good friend [Abdel Said] here, so we’re really, really pleased. I couldn’t be happier.”

The other Irish placed riders included Cork’s Shane Sweetnam, who finished fifth with Karlin Van’t Vennehof. Capt Brian Cournane was seventh aboard Armik, while Wexford’s Bertram Allen came home ninth with the Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro who was bred by Co Donegal’s Simon Scott and is owned by fellow Donegal man, Aiden McGrory.

Kenny’s star

Earlier in the week at the same venue, Irish riders landed all five top places in the five-star $73,000 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup. Darragh Kenny and the Michael Kearins-owned 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse Sligo Balou Boy (Balou de Rouet x Catiana), who was bred by Sligo’s Padraig Howley, took victory after a 10-horse jump-off, with a clear round in 33.75 seconds.

Michael Duffy and Jeff Ten Halven took second place, while Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Chancelloress finished third.

Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro finished fourth, while Cian O’Connor completed the Irish clean sweep when guiding Kilkenny (ISH) to fifth.