Meath’s Cian O’Connor and the Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny were in unbeatable form at the Andalucía October Tour over the weekend, taking victory in Sunday’s three-star Suzuki Grand Prix at Vejer De La Frontera in Spain.
Kilkenny (ISH) is by Cardento out of MHS Pembrook Lady (ISH) by Guidam.
It was the first outing for 10-year-old gelding Kilkenny, bred by Sinead Brennan and owned by Susan Magnier, since helping Ireland to victory in the Aga Khan at the Dublin Horse Show in August.
Ten combinations from the 38 starters went forward to the jump-off, where O’Connor’s perfect clear in 39.35 seconds saw him finish half-a-second ahead of American runner-up Laura Kraut and Baloutinue (39.93), while third place went to Spain’s Iván Serrano Sáez and Rain Man.
Two Irish sport horses finished in the top four, with Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick finishing fourth with another clear in 40.44.
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