With a superb double clear on the Irish-bred Slieveanorra, Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney came a close second in the FTI Consulting $500,000 Grand Prix Finale at Wellington, Florida, on Sunday last.
Bred by Ronnie Hollinger from Monaghan, Slieveanorra is by Voltaire and out of the Flagmount Diamond dam Creevagh Quaich.
This 12-year-old chestnut gelding was ridden here in Ireland by Richie’s brother Eddie to win the National Championship, before heading across the Atlantic.
He has been a consistent winner over the last two seasons, but in very stiff company this was his best performance so far. One of just seven first-round clears in this big finale of the Florida circuit, Richie was drawn fourth to go against the clock.
Bruce Springsteen’s daughter Jessica had taken the lead on Peter Charles’ former ride Vindicat in a corner-cutting 44.87. But next in, the Warrington, Co Kilkenny-man cut a quarter of a second off her time to take it up in 44.64.
He then had to watch Britain’s Scott Brash power his way around over the twisting eight-fence track with his Olympic star Hello Sanctos.
Slightly up on time, they raced the long run to the last for the $120,000 win by just over a second in 43.44. Richie collected $72,000 for second.
His family watched the whole thing on Livestream at the Warrington Top flight Equestrian Centre. Speaking to The Irish Horse when it was over, his mum declared: “He was just brilliant and with three top riders coming after him he did everything he could.” Richie has now qualified for his first world cup final. It will take place in Lyon in three weeks’ time.
Also during this last week at Wellington, Darragh Kenny won the five-star speed finale on Prof de la Rqoue by Kannan. Ronan McGuigan took third in that with Capall Zidane.
These performances topped a superb run of success for Irish riders at this 12-week long winter equestrian festival, which has Ireland’s Michael Stone as its director and Allan Wade as one of its course builders. CL
With a superb double clear on the Irish-bred Slieveanorra, Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney came a close second in the FTI Consulting $500,000 Grand Prix Finale at Wellington, Florida, on Sunday last.
Bred by Ronnie Hollinger from Monaghan, Slieveanorra is by Voltaire and out of the Flagmount Diamond dam Creevagh Quaich.
This 12-year-old chestnut gelding was ridden here in Ireland by Richie’s brother Eddie to win the National Championship, before heading across the Atlantic.
He has been a consistent winner over the last two seasons, but in very stiff company this was his best performance so far. One of just seven first-round clears in this big finale of the Florida circuit, Richie was drawn fourth to go against the clock.
Bruce Springsteen’s daughter Jessica had taken the lead on Peter Charles’ former ride Vindicat in a corner-cutting 44.87. But next in, the Warrington, Co Kilkenny-man cut a quarter of a second off her time to take it up in 44.64.
He then had to watch Britain’s Scott Brash power his way around over the twisting eight-fence track with his Olympic star Hello Sanctos.
Slightly up on time, they raced the long run to the last for the $120,000 win by just over a second in 43.44. Richie collected $72,000 for second.
His family watched the whole thing on Livestream at the Warrington Top flight Equestrian Centre. Speaking to The Irish Horse when it was over, his mum declared: “He was just brilliant and with three top riders coming after him he did everything he could.” Richie has now qualified for his first world cup final. It will take place in Lyon in three weeks’ time.
Also during this last week at Wellington, Darragh Kenny won the five-star speed finale on Prof de la Rqoue by Kannan. Ronan McGuigan took third in that with Capall Zidane.
These performances topped a superb run of success for Irish riders at this 12-week long winter equestrian festival, which has Ireland’s Michael Stone as its director and Allan Wade as one of its course builders. CL
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