IRELAND’S Simon McCarthy got off to a good start at the four-star fixture at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida on Wednesday, when winning the two-star $1,000 1.35m two-phase class on board Sea Coast Queen B Van’T Paradijs. McCarthy followed this up with a third-place finish in Friday’s two-star $32,000 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier, this time riding Igor GPH, followed by Daniel Coyle in ninth place on Urville Z. In the day’s $15,000 1.40m Welcome Prix, Robert Blanchette placed fifth on board Coupis and also ninth with Chardonnay.

Saturday’s four-star $32,000 1.45m speed class saw McCarthy finish in eighth place with Quartier van de Begijnakker. The four-star $200,000 1.55m Grand Prix saw 23 combinations on the start list, with just six jumping clear in the first round to proceed to the jump-off. Daniel Coyle was among these with Daydream 141, who was making her debut under the lights at Ocala, but an unfortunate four faults second time out put them in sixth place at the finish. The class was won by Daniel Bluman (ISR) on Corbie VV, who took home the $60,000 first prize.

Coyle and Urville Z finished on the podium in Sunday’s two-star $65,000 1.45m Grand Prix when a pole down in the jump-off put them in third place.