KILKENNY’S Richie Moloney is off to a flying start at Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre, scoring a runner-up finish in last Thursday’s opening CSI**** class aboard Alsvid, beaten by just one tenth of a second by American rider Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S in 58.95 seconds. The 15-year-old Hanovarian gelding by Escudo I, who is owned by Equinimity LLC, went on to place third in Saturday’s $35,000 Denver 1.45m Classic at the Wellington venue.

From 45 starters, Moloney completed the track in 62.12 seconds behind Chilian winner Samuel Parot and Quick Du Pottier, who raced through the timers in 59.22 seconds, and Eduardo Menezes with Carushka in second (0/60.36.

Meanwhile, there were three Irish riders in line-up of the $216,000 Palm Beach County Sports Commission Grand Prix in Wellington, Florida, last Sunday. No combination could navigate the first round fault-free, but two riders, Russia’s Liubov Kochetova and USA’s Maggie McAlary both picked up a single time penalty to force a jump-off.

It all went wrong though for McAlary in the jump-off when she finished with 17 faults aboard Maraca LS La Silla, and Kochetova opted for a steady round with the lovely Balou Du Reventon to finish with two time faults and take top spot on the podium.

Co Tipperary’s Kevin Babington was the highest placed Irish rider in fifth, with four faults in the first round, aboard Shorapur (4/73.79). Conor Swail also picked up four faults for seventh place with Hetman Of Colors (4/ 75.73), while Sligo’s Darragh Kerins and Rebeca LS finished in ninth (5/78.71).