AMERICA’s Georgina Bloomberg enjoyed her first major Grand Prix win at the Winter Equestrian Festival when taking the honours in last Saturday night’s $127,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI*** in Wellington, Florida.

Bloomberg swept to victory on Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s Lilli, an 11-year-old Brandenburg mare by Lefevre, double clear in 46.98.

However Irish eyes were all on the stunning performance of runner-up Laura Chapot’s Irish-bred mare ISHD Dual Star who only jumped her first Saturday night Grand Prix under lights at the major festival the previous week.

Wilton Porter with Diamonte Darco were third while Schuyler Riley and Dobra de Porceyo took fourth and Todd Minikus was fifth with Babalou 41.

ISHD Dual Star is 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (by Quickstar x Concorde), owned by Mary Chapot, and she jumped double clear in a time of 48.06 to take second place. Chapot, who was first to go in the Grand Prix jump-off, was delighted with the Irish mare saying: “This is probably the most difficult course I have shown with her. I was very, very pleased with the way she went. My plan in the jump-off was really to just put in a clear and prompt round. I think that there was a couple of places I could have been a lot faster but I really just wanted a good, solid round and to try and make everyone else try hard and she was jumping great. She’s a good Irish horse.”

Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney was ninth on Carrabis Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide stallion (by Canabis Z x Grannusso), owned by Equinimity LLC (4/81.55) while Conor Swail was 10th on Grafton, a nine-year-old Selle Francais stallion (by Calvaro x Vondeen), owned by Susan and Ariel Grange (4/81.86). The class attracted 45 entries from 13 nations and the competition was the highlight of the third week of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Bloomberg has ridden Lilli for about two and a half years and stepped the mare up to the Grand Prix level last year. Lilli has served as a second horse to Bloomberg’s top mount, Juvina, but is now moving up to even out the workload.

“This was one of my first big Grand Prixs with her and my first time jumping her under the lights,” Bloomberg explained after her win. “I have felt more confidence with her, and she has been jumping well over bigger jumps. I felt like tonight was a good opportunity for her to step up, and I was very happy with her. Going under lights is very good for her because it piques the interest of most horses. Sometimes being a little too relaxed during the day can change when you are jumping under the lights. They will pay more attention and be more careful.”

This was Bloomberg’s first win in a major Saturday night grand prix at WEF as well as a great start to her 2015 season. “I have never won a Saturday night class here before. This is my first, and my first big class of the season, so it is nice to start out on a good note and get that first win here,” the rider acknowledged.

Turn to page A65 for more Irish-bred results.