Cian O’Connor added to a superb weekend for Irish equestrian sport, collecting $200,000 after a runner-up finish in the Great American Million Dollar Grand Prix at Ocala in Florida.
The Meath-based rider and the 10-year-old stallion Good Luck produced one of just three double-clear rounds over a tough course built by Ireland’s Alan Wade.
The London Olympic bronze medallist finished a second ahead of his American pupil Lillie Keenan, who was riding Super Sox – a horse O’Connor competed with himself on a number of occasions.
Afterwards O'Connor said: "I'm thrilled to have finished second here. I've been aiming this big class since January.
"I've been campaigning Good Luck very lightly since he arrived in Florida last November, as I want him to peak later in the summer.
"He's jumped in just three major Grands Prix since the beginning of the year, and has been clear in all of them, but today's double clear round produced the biggest cheque of all."
Colombia’s Roberto Teran collected the winners prize of $350,000 with the 13-year-old mare Woklahoma.
"I'm thrilled to have finished second here. I've been aiming this big class since January"
Meanwhile at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington Florida, Limerick’s Paul O’Shea finish third in the $86,000 Suncast Championship with NLF Favourite. America’s Kent Farrington took the winners prize with Gazelle.
Earlier in France, the Irish Eventing team got their preparations for the Olympic Games in Rio off to an excellent start when they finished third in the Fontainebleau Nations Cup.
At the Reem Acra Dressage World Cup finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, Kildare’s Judy Reynolds made history when finishing eighth with Vancouver K. Reynolds as Ireland’s first ever representative at a World Cup Dressage Final.
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch carries Irish hopes in Monday’s Longines World Cup Jumping final at the Swedish venue.
He lies in joint tenth place with the stallion All Star 5 heading into the final round.
