TIPPERARY-born Kevin Babington was in action at the four-star show at Del Mar in California last weekend and scored a top-10 finish in the $150,000 World Cup qualifier with the Irish Sport Horse Mark Q.

Babington and the 13-year-old son of OBOS Quality jumped clear in the opening round but finished the jump-off with three fences on the floor to leave the pair in eighth place overall.

World No 2, Beezie Madden, took the winners prize with Simon, producing the fastest of four double clear rounds with the 16-year-old son of Mr Blue who is out of a Polydox dam.

“I saw a couple of the earlier rounds, thanks to the TVs that Longines now provides in the schooling areas,” Madden said. “I planned to do seven strides up the first line, same as the others but then to catch them on the turns later in the course. Indoors especially, he [Simon] can be really fast with the short turns.

“Simon has been my World Cup Final horse for the last three years. He doesn’t really have any quirks except that he whinnies at the in gate every time before he goes into the ring. He’s a pleasure to deal with and to ride.”

Madden also commented on the new World Cup format in the States, which has seen a reduction in the amount of qualifying rounds: “I like that the North American League has reduced the number of qualifiers and number of scores that count toward qualifying for the final,” said Madden.

“It gives more opportunities for international competition. This is the first one I’ve done in the league, but I can still get enough in to get four good scores and not really over jump my horses.”