Three seconds of a time difference denied Cian O’Connor and Carlous Z a win in the $84,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Valentine’s Grand Prix at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) last Friday.

Slotting into second place in a time of 39.28 seconds, O’Connor admitted that the blazing round by American rider Kent Farrington and Blue Angel was too fast to beat. Farrington’s 12-year-old Luidam-sired mare sped around clear in just 36.58.