CORK’s Billy Twomey finished runner-up in the $213,300 Longines Grand Prix at the five-star Nations Cup show in Deeridge, Florida, when, for the second week in-a-row, USA’s McLain Ward and Noche de Ronda topped the podium.

Ireland’s Alan Wade designed a big 1.60m technical track for the starting 45 and nine kept a clean sheet in the first round to progress to the jump-off. Second into the arena, Twomey, who is spending part of the winter in Florida for the first time, set the standard with Kim Barzilay’s talented 11-year-old gelding Kimba Flamenco.

The big-striding gelding broke the beam in 38.29 seconds to lay down the gauntlet. But three horses later, Ward and Noche de Ronda found a shorter route and passed through the timers in 37.86 seconds to edge Twomey into second place. USA’s Margie Engle completed the podium with Dicas when clear in 39.10 seconds.

Speaking afterwards, Twomey was delighted with the runner-up finish. “I wanted to try to put it up to the other riders; my horse is naturally a fast horse. McLain’s horse obviously has a really big step, and he was able to leave out [a stride in the first bending line], and he probably ended up a little faster than me there. I’m really happy with the way my horse performed; he always seemed in good shape.”

Ward earned just over $70,000 for first place, and adding that to the previous week’s prize money, the 11-year-old mare scooped $200,000 in just six days.

“Billy was fast, but I didn’t think it was breakneck speed, so to speak. I knew I had a couple of good [riders] behind me, but I thought, ‘Okay, don’t lose the class,’” said Ward.

Limerick’s Paul O’Shea finished fifth in Saturday’s 1.45m Table A at the venue. Riding Skara Glen’s Florencia, he posted a clear round in 69.27 seconds, while teammate Cian O’Connor was also clear aboard Houdini van de Dijk to slot into eighth place. Victory went to Israel’s Alberto Michan.

Kenny win

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny won the opening $8,000 1.40m Palm Beach Masters Warm-Up at the five-star show with Billy Manjaro.

“He was a little bit fresh. Not many people went very fast, and he was kind of running away with me, so I was just kind of going along with it,” said Kenny, adding that he has high hopes for the Animo-sired 10-year-old British-bred gelding.

“He still is green but he has a lot of quality, and a lot of scope, and I think he’s going to be a really incredible horse,” he added.