KILKENNY’s Richie Moloney and the Irish-bred Slieveanorra racked up another top win, taking the $35,000 Shelby Drazan Foundational International Open Jumpers Welcome Speed at Lexington CSI*** last weekend.

“It feels great to win here tonight,” said Moloney. “It’s the first day so you never know what may happen. It’s a nice way to start the week!”

Forty-three combinations navigated the Michel Vaillancourt-designed course, but only 12 successfully finished with no faults. America’s Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S, owned by Stone Hill Farm, held the lead for the majority of the class as second in the order-of-go with a clear time of 60.620 seconds, but by the end of the night their time would be second best to Moloney’s.

Jack Hardin Towell (USA) and New York, owned by Evergate Stables LLC, challenged Springsteen’s winning pace, but their time of 61.810 seconds would garner them third place honors in the final rankings.

Moloney has had the ride on Slieveanorra, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, for five years. The veteran campaigner (Voltaire x Flagmount Diamond) was bred by Monaghan’s Ronnie Hollinger. Fourth place with a time of 63.660 seconds was American Catherine Tyree and Enjoy Louis, owned by Joseph Tyree, while fifth place went to Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and Siboney Ranch’s Cornwall in 64.260 seconds.

Moloney was also second with Slieveanorra in the 1.45m accumulator (65 points 50.29), won by America’s Leslie Howard on Donna Speciale (65 points 50.02). Offaly’s Darragh Kenny was ninth with Charlie Brown (65 points 64.45). And there was further success for the Kilkenny man and Slieveanorra when they were again second in the 1.45m speed and handiness class (0 55.59), won by America’s Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S (0 55.68). Cork’s Shane Sweetnam was ninth with Cornwall (0 61.86).

While the honours in the fourth leg of the $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup went to America’s Kent Farrington and Voyeur, Moloney was eighth with Carrabis from the 40-strong starting field. Moloney won a one-year lease on a new Audi after being crowned Leading Rider at the CP National Horse Show.

In other news, Tipperary’s Kevin Babington and his Shorapur won the $25,000 Smartpak Grand Prix at HITS Thermal. In Toronto’s Winter Fair, Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and Chaqui Z were fourth in the $130,270 Longines FEI World Cup class won by McLain Ward on HH Azur. Darragh Kenny and Cassini Z were ninth.

Germany’s Michael Jung won the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge with Cruising Guy (by Loughehoe Guy out of Thornfield Gwynne, by Cruising). Cruising Guy was bred by Clement Stapleton in Co Tipperary and is owned by Shawn Ferguson.