IRELAND’s European bronze medallist Cian O’Connor finished on the podium in last Saturday night’s five-star $384,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Riding Clenur, O’Connor was just a split second over the time allowed in the first round of the 1.60m Grand Prix to finish in third place after just two of the 40 riders managed to keep a clean sheet over Kelvin Bywater’s track.

Just Israel’s Daniel Bluman and Switzerland’s Beat Mändli made it through to the jump-off and Mändli thought he had done enough when he produced a clear in 40.47 seconds with Dsarie.

However, Bluman knew what he had to do and made up time from fences one to two, eventually crossing the line in 39.42 seconds with Ladriano Z.

O’Connor’s first round with the huge 12-year-old, 18hh Clenur, who joined O’Connor’s string in December having previously been ridden by Germany’s Marco Kutscher, was just over the time allowed for one time fault but the Kildare man was pleased with the gelding’s performance.

MANOEUVRING

“He’s a very big horse to manoeuvre around,” O’Connor said. “The big ring suits him. It’s only the fourth or fifth class that I’ve done with him here.

“He took a little bit of a wobble down the last line to the water tray vertical. I was clear then, and I just cantered it down.

“Maybe I could have been a little quicker coming to the third last (jump). I was just over the time, but I’m very happy with my cheque.”

Co Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney was fifth in Sunday’s five-star $70,000 Hollow Creek Farm 1.50m Classic with Equinimity LLC’s Carrabis Z, over a field of 55 starters. Some 17 combinations made it through the the jump-off and Moloney produced another clear in 38.91 seconds.

Victory went to America’s McLain Ward and Bellefleur PS Z (0/0 35.93), their second win of the week, after winning Friday’s five-star 1.45m.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny finished second to Ward in that class aboard USA Normande.