McGuigan claimed first placce in the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, the feature on week two of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in Wellington, Florida.

Riders representing nine different countries lined-out under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) for the two-star event. Luc Musette of Belgium set the course for the 44 entries and nine clear rounds advanced to the jump-off. Seven clears were recorded over the short course, the fastest of which came from McGuigan.

Fifth to go in the second round, McGuigan and Capall Zidane completed in 39.92 seconds, edging out America’s Todd Minikus and Quality Girl’s time of 40.15. A few rounds later, Nicholas Dello Joio and Carlos VHP Z came home in 40.33 to third place.

Sweden’s Alexander Zetterman and Cafino finished fourth in 40.50, while America’s Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W were fifth in 40.52.

McGuigan already has an early lead in the $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge standings after a very successful start to the circuit and he added a few more points to that lead with Saturday night’s win. Capall Zidane, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Concorde, has been incredibly consistent for the rider and continues to prove himself.

“I came down here for the holiday horse show, and he was second in the two 1.45m classes and then he had a rail in the World Cup and came 13th,” McGuigan explained. “Last week was his first week back and he was third in the WEF and fourth in the Grand Prix, and this week he was third in the WEF again and topped it off tonight, so he can have a rest now.”

Commenting on his jump-off round, McGuigan noted: “I was usually fighting most of the year here with Todd, so I knew I had to try and beat him. The turn back to the third jump, I had to give him a little bit of time, it was tricky, but after that everything else you could gallop up to the jumps. He’s very careful, so the jump-off course kind of suited me.”

McGuigan travelled to America some 12 years ago and now has a farm in New Jersey. He is enjoying the opportunity to jump at a higher level and acknowledged that Saturday’s win was the biggest of his career.

“This is the first time I’ve really had a chance to jump at this level,” McGuigan continued. “Mostly I have been training clients, so I’m just having fun with him. I’ve got a few new, young horses coming up behind him, so hopefully next year they can help me out a little and take the pressure off him (Capall Zidane).

“I’ve had him since he was a five-year-old. I bought him at the Hendrix auction and I actually never went to try him. I just bought him off a DVD. When I bought him, all of my Irish pals called him the internet horse, but I had the last laugh tonight. He has been very consistent since I’ve had him.”

Minikus added: “I’d like to congratulate Ronan; he has really done a great job with that horse. I have watched that horse, his career since Ronan started with him, and Ronan has done a hell of a job with him.”

DOUBLE CLEAR

McGuigan and Capall Zidane had finished third in Section A of last Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series with a double clear in 41.52. Victory went to Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda on Ad Uutje in 39.71, while American Lauren Hough was second in 40.15 on Reconnaissance.

In Section B of that class, Richie Moloney partnered Carrabis Z to finish eighth with one time fault in the first round. American Charlie Jacobs won as the fastest of the four double clears on Flaming Star in 39.85. The winning horse, a gelding by Fairman, was bred in Co Down by Liam McKee.

The previous day, McGuigan and his gelding Capall Zidane were third in a 1.40m speed class with another clear in 62.23. Samuel Parot (Carla TM) won in 61.59, while Cian O’Connor finished 10th on Quidam’s Cherie in 76.98.

Last Thursday week, O’Connor was seventh on Carolus Z in a 1.45m jump-off, picking up four faults in 36.88 against the clock. Eric Lamaze won on Powerplay in 35.24.

The following day, David Blake steered Lisalba to win a 1.30m speed class when clear in 52.81, finishing clear of runner-up Yann Candele (Zento VDV) in 55.11. Darragh Kenny slotted into 10th on Dakota VDL in 63.36.

On the opening day of week two, Kenny had partnered Caprisio to win a 1.30m jump-off with a double clear in 35.29. Jeffery Welles (Bilion) was second in 37.22. Shane Sweetnam was second in the other section of the class on Triviant with a double clear in 37.25 to leave him just off David Arcand’s time of 36.98.

Kenny was recorded two eighth placings in a 1.35m speed and jump-off on Chin Quidam VDL last week, jumping three clear rounds. They were also 10th in a 1.35m jump-off, again producing two clear rounds.

Also last week, Shane Sweetnam partnered Mimosa to finish ninth in a 1.40m jump-off, jumping a double clear in 32.41. Todd Minikus (Babalou 41) won in 29.77.