THERE was a strong Irish flavour to the five-star $340,000 MLSJ Grand Prix at Traverse City, Michigan on Saturday, as French rider Nina Mallevaey steered the Irish Sport Horse mare, My Clementine (OBOS Quality x Kashmir Van Schuttershof), bred by the late David Prentice, to victory in a time of 40.56 for a prize pot of $102,000. Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and another Irish Sport Horse, James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), bred by Patrick Connolly, was less than half a second behind in 40.97 for third. Kent Farrington (USA) on Greya slotted into second place (40.66). Only five of the 29 starters had jumped clear in round one to proceed to the jump-off.

“I’m so happy for Clementine,” said Mallevaey, who is currently the world’s highest-ranked female rider at 10th in the ranking list. “I think she deserves this win more than anyone. She’s been fighting for me since I’ve had her and I’m so happy to give her this win. She’s such a fighter. She’s not the scopiest horse, but she has a huge heart, she always tries her best, she’s the best and she really deserves it.”

The French rider continued: “It means a lot [to win]. It’s only the second five-star grand prix for Clementine; she did her first one last week. If you told me at the beginning of the year that she would win a five-star grand prix I would maybe not believe it, so I’m so happy and proud.”

Top sport

Sweetnam said afterwards: “If you asked me today what the podium would be, I would tell you it would probably be these three combinations. Nina’s won everywhere with that horse, Kent obviously wins everywhere, and my horse is consistently there as well. It shows you how good a sport it is, especially in America. It’s changed in the last five years and with Matt [Morrissey] and Keean [White] putting on Major League. It’s really upped our sport. We have the best combinations jumping here and we’re showing the top sport.”

Showing his class, Sweetnam also came out on top in the two-star $62,500 MLSJ Grand Prix on board Qmusic-K van’T Kattenheye, when they rode the only double clear of the 32-strong class to take home the $18,750 top prize.

The Major League Show Jumping fixture saw Ireland’s David O’Brien, Simon McCarthy and Gavin Harley joining Sweetnam in the placings.