WHILE they didn’t claim the top spot this time round, Irish riders took two podium places and three of the top four in Sunday’s four-star $225,000 Empire State Grand Prix at Old Salem Farm in New York. In a class of 28, Clare’s Philip McGuane rode Orphea HQ into the runner-up position to win $45,000, closely followed by Derry’s Jordan Coyle on Jorisca in third ($33,750). Offaly’s Darragh Kenny on Diaroubet finished just off the podium in fourth to secure $22,500.

McLain Ward was unbeatable with Callas and took home the very generous top prize of $74,250.

Out in force

The Irish were once again out in force at Old Salem Farm, as the international show jumping classes commenced last Thursday. The $5,000 1.45m class saw three Irish riders finish in the top eight, with Kenny on Mendoza VDL placing fifth; Sligo’s Daniel Kerins on Diacette in sixth and McGuane on My Lady Van De Krekel in eighth from a start list of 47.

There were 42 starters in Friday’s $75,000 Welcome Stake class and again the Irish performed well, with four finishing within the top 10. Coyle took a podium place when third with For Gold but also placed eighth on board Chaccolino. In between Coyle’s mounts, Kenny took fourth place with Zero K, while McGuane rode Paso Doble SCF into fifth.

Coyle maintained his good form at Old Salem Farm when he won the four-star $37,500 1.45m class with Jorisca on Saturday. Coyle and his mount proved best of the 27 starters and took home the $12,375 top prize. Kenny rode Mendoza VDL into eighth place in the class, while Coyle also finished 13th with For Gold, who had been the pathfinder but had an unfortunate fence down.

Coyle said of his winning partner: “This [horse is] quite green to going fast. The jumps weren’t so big today, and this gave her a good experience with that. If the rail had stayed up with my first horse, I wouldn’t have necessarily gone slower with the second, but I would’ve gone a little steadier. I made a bit of a mistake on For Gold; I should’ve trusted him more at that double. Maybe that would’ve been the class over from the start, (but) I don’t believe the class is over until it’s over.

“I really like this mare, actually. I was very fortunate that my wife’s father bought the horse for me, and hopefully, she’s everything that we’re expecting her to be. She did a few five-star Grands Prix in Wellington and did quite well.”