IRELAND’s Ronan McGuigan put in a classy round on Capall Zidane to post a win in a competitive $34,000 1.45m FEI World Ranking class at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre in Wellington, Florida, last weekend.

Victory in the Equestrian Sports Productions’ (ESP) Holiday & Horses competition fell to the Irish rider and his 10-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding (Concorde x Baloubet du Rouet) in a time of 63.96 seconds to claim the top prize of $8,000.

Second place went to America’s Lauren Hough on Paris Sellon’s Heracross (ISH) in 64.74 while American Brianne Goutal and Remarkable Farms LP’s Wirma were third in 65.20. Finland’s Nina Fagerstrom and Finca Horses’ Notaris jumped clear in 65.72 to place fourth.

Galway’s Andrew Bourns placed sixth on Casper, clear in a time of 66.57.

Hough was leading with Heracross until McGuigan flew around the course on Capall Zidane to snatch the win.

“My horse is just really fast across the ground. I didn’t think Lauren left any room, but we got it somewhere,” said a delighted McGuigan afterwards.

McGuigan and Capall Zidane (known as Elliott in the barn) had several Grand Prix wins earlier this season and came back strong to win again last Friday.

“This is his first show back really since Harrisburg. He had a rail down on Wednesday but he was good and today suited him. It wasn’t that big today, so he was able to run. You are able to run him fast and he is careful that way,” said the winning rider. Capall Zidane took part in last Saturday night’s $50,000 FEI World Cup qualifier Grand Prix and will now have a few weeks off before the start of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in January.

“It’s funny, he will go so fast in the ring, but if you are riding him at home it is really hard to get him going,” McGuigan added.

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