IRISH riders claimed two podium places in the three-star $120,000 1.50m Grand Prix at the first week of the December Series at Ocala, Florida on Saturday.

From the 41 starters, 10 jumped clear in the first round to proceed to the jump-off, with six managing to do so again. Among these were Tralee’s Dylan Daly, who rode Cinderella Z into the runner-up position in a time of 35.12 and Paul O’Shea on the 17-year-old Imerald Van’t Voorhof a fraction behind in third (35.20). The Irish pair weren’t far behind winner Ilan Bluman (COL) on Acajou, who was second-last to go and set the winning time of 34.85.

Good start

A three-star show ran at the World Equestrian Centre in Ocala, Florida from December 3rd to 7th. Ireland’s Robert Blanchette and Chardonnay made a good start when winning Wednesday’s three-star $32,000 1.45m speed class from 34 participants.

Blanchette followed this up in Thursday’s $15,000 1.40m WEC Welcome Prix, placing fifth with Coupis and also 10th on Carnlea Premier Balou.

The three-star $63,000 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier on Thursday saw Jonathan Corrigan claim fifth place on board Darius De Kerglenn. There were 55 starters in the class, with 11 making it through to the jump-off, where just six were able to remain fault-free. Corrigan’s clear in 38.11 was just off the pace of class winner Kristen B Vanderveen (USA) on Bull Run’s Jireh, who stopped the jump-off clock in 35.13. Meanwhile on Friday, O’Shea placed fifth in the $1,000 1.35m jumper class with Primo CBI Cornet.