CORK’S Shane Sweetnam finished on the podium in Thursday’s three-star $62,500 1.50m class at Lexington, Kentucky, when placing third with Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z. From a start list of 56, only four completed the first round fault-free and within the time allowed and three of those jumped clear again. Sweetnam clocked 43.44 seconds on his return to the ring, which was nearly six seconds behind the world number one Kent Farrington (USA) on Orafina, who rode an incredibly fast round in 37.5 to take home the $15,625 first prize.

Placings

Down’s Conor Swail and Echonix secured ninth place in the 1.35m class on Wednesday, while in the $31,500 1.45m Welcome class, Richie Moloney on Skelwith Diamond Lady placed sixth, followed by Swail on One Edition in ninth.

Conor O’Regan on Carmen de Bonnieres finished sixth in Thursday’s 1.40m class, while Swail claimed a third-place finish in Friday’s 1.35m class on board Qoreen Van’t Ruytershof Z, with a double clear round in 33.81. Sweetnam placed 10th with Rural Juror SCF in the day’s 1.45m class.

Saturday’s $125,000 Grand Prix saw two Irish men in the top 10, with Sweetnam on Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z in eighth and Richie Moloney on Skelwith Diamond Lady in ninth. Luis Larrazabal (VEN) and Quick Chick took the win and the $31,250 first prize.

Ireland’s Declan Egan placed 10th with Cerlino in the day’s 1.45m class and Kevin Gallagher rode Ninja BF into sixth place in the seven-year-old class.

Sweetnam was in the top five again on Sunday, when placing fifth with King of Diamonds Z in the Commonwealth Grand Prix, followed by O’Regan on Big Boy Z in ninth.