TIPPERARY’s Kevin Babington and the Irish-bred Mark Q won the $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon at the four-star venue on Thursday, beating Americans Danielle Torano and double Olympic gold medallist McLain Ward in a three-horse jump-off before a 9,000-strong crowd.

Over a course built by Kelvin Bywater, Babington and Mark Q were the pathfinders, clear in 38.43 seconds. “It’s always nice to win a class, Mark Q is my favourite horse,” said a delighted Babington.

Torano and Callass II cleared the track in 39.49 for seconds afer Ward and Rothschild uncharacteristically ducked out at the last fence.

It’s the latest win for Babington who was third with his great 10-year-old Hanoverian mare Shorapur in the $130,000 Grand Prix presented by Split Rock Farm at Lexington CSI***, Kentucky, last weekend from 45 starters over a track designed by Alan Wade.

Just five combinations went through to the jump-off. An unfortunate four faults for the duo put them in third in a blistering time of 46.52 seconds. The win went to Chile’s Samuel Parot on the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding Atlantis, double clear in 50.74.

Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney was 10th on the Irish-bred Slieveanorra with four faults in 72.91.

Babington enjoyed a great run at the show coming second with Shorapur, double clear in 35.87 in the $40,000 Amalya Investments Grand Prix with Ireland’s Lorcan Gallagher in third on Venturo 9 (0/0 36.39) while Galway’s Andrew Bourns was sixth on Hyakari (0/4 37.78) while the win went to America’s Lisa Goldman on Centurion B (0/0 35.48).

Meanwhile there was victory for Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra in the $35,000 Hollow Creek Farm speed class and he also took second place in Alsvid in the competition.

Babington was fifth on Mark Q and also took 12th place with Shorapur.

Meanwhile, Clare’s David Blake continued his run of top form at Tryon taking second in the $75,000 Tryon Spring VI Grand Prix on Binkie, clear in 44.86 and also placed Baron fourth to pick up a further $6,000. Blake also placed Baron second in the $25,000 Suncast Welcome Stakes in which Sligo’s Darragh Kerins was third with S&L Through The Looking Glass.