Most notably in Saturday’s $33,500 McDaniel & Associates 1m55, where he claimed a win with Alpha VDL, by the incredibly tight margin of six thousandths of a second.

The Offaly native was one of seven to make the jump-off and he was the first rider to post a second clear with Eva Castegren’s nine-year-old gelding Alpha VDL, who is by Corland out of an Emilion dam.

Kenny held the lead with a time of 39.661 seconds, when last to jump Kirsten Coe entered the arena with Czaredas 30. The American rider crossed the finish beam clear in 39.667 seconds, to give Darragh Kenny victory in what was Alpha VDL’s first 1.55m competition.

Speaking afterwards, Kenny spoke about how quickly his move up through the grades: “His progression has been incredible. The horse has gone from jumping 1.40m classes at the start of Florida to winning Grand Prix.

“He won a Grand Prix in Ocala, he won a Grand Prix in Saugerties, and now he won this 1.55m here. This is the biggest class he has ever had to jump, and he coped extremely well. It was great. His owner is here this week, so she got to see him, and it all worked out pretty well.”

Kenny was also in the prizes in Friday’s 1.50m class at the Canadian venue, grabbing runner-up spot with the Selle Francais gelding Prof De La Roque behind American winner Richard Spooner riding Uraguay, while Egyptian rider Sameh El Dahan was also among the prizes with the Irish Sport Horse, Sumas Zorro, the mare by VDL Douglas taking sixth place.

Irish riders filled three of the top six places in the 1.45m on the same day at Spruce Meadows. Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney finished third with Freestyle De Muze after picking up just two time faults in the jump-off, while Cork-born Shane Sweetnam took fifth spot with Cyclon, just ahead of Darragh Kenny in sixth with Picolo. The win went to Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5.

Darragh Kenny added another sixth place with Picolo, who is by Diamant De Semilly out of a dam by Alme, this time in the $33,000 West Canadian 1.50m, which was won by American rider Will Simpson with Geledimar.

Thursday’s feature class, the 1.50m Cargill Cup saw another international win for Richard Spooner and Cristallo, however Irish riders also featured in the top 10. Shane Sweetnam grabbed runner-up spot with the Swedish Warmblood Fineman, just nine hundredths of a second slower than the winners time.

Conor Swail continued his return from injury with a fourth place finish aboard another Swedish Warmblood, Martha Louise, while Carrick-on-Suir native Kevin Babington was close behind in fifth with the Irish-bred OBOS Quality gelding Mark Q.

All three Irish riders posting double clear rounds. Meanwhile Egypt’s Sameh El Dahan continued to fly the Irish Sport Horse flag, taking sixth place the same competition with WKD Pepperpot, a 12-year-old mare by Heritage Fortunas.

The tournament at Spruce Meadows came to a close with Sunday’s $125,000 Imperial Challenge 1m55, where Kevin Babington took fifth place with Mark Q, the Irish-bred gelding taking fifth place after knocking a single rail in the jump-off. Shane Sweetnam also took eighth spot for the Irish with Eregast Vant Kiezelhof.

The class was won by Nicolas Pizarro Suarez, who took the winner’s prize home to Mexico after jumping one of only two double clear rounds aboard the nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion Colasko.