IRELAND’s Kevin Babington jumped Shorapur to victory in a 74-horse field this week in the $34,000 opening FEI class at Wellington, Florida, USA.

It’s the latest victory in a fantastic season for the Irish rider that has seen him win four major Grand Prix victories with Shorapur, the mare really came into her own last season at the Winter Equestrian Festival and has not looked back since.

The Tipperary rider won the Equestrian Sports Productions’ Holiday & Horses CSI** World Cup qualilfier at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre on Wednesday after besting 17 combinations in the jump-off. America’s Andrew Welles and Boo van het Kastanjehof took the runner-up slot.

Babington and his nine-year-old Hanoverian mare (Stakkato Gold x Drosselklang II) raced through the course in 40.73 seconds, ahead of Welles on 41.53. Finland’s Nina Fagerstrom and Notaris placed third with a time of 41.76.

Ireland’s Lorcan Gallagher was eighth on Spy Coast’s Farm’s Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve, double clear in 43.17.

“She was always a good horse. All the other riders will tell you that; everybody liked her,” Babington stated. “She just had to get experience. She is only nine, so she shouldn’t have been doing it before this anyway.”

Commenting on his incredibly fast round in the jump-off, Babington noted: “She is almost better when I don’t get in her way because she is so careful. Today’s first round she was a little fussy, and in the jump-off, she is almost a little more rideable when I don’t try to interfere with her too much.”

Welles held the lead before Babington took over and knew that Shorapur could be faster. “She has always been one of my favourite horses,” Welles remarked. “I was scared with him following me for sure. These two have been on fire all season.”

Speaking of Shorapur’s confident attitude, Babington smiled: “She is cocky. I think she knows when she has been good. She is very proud of herself.”

Babington and Shorapur will compete again under the lights in tonight’s (Saturday) $50,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix.