THE first five-star Grand Prix of 2021 went the way of Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam in an epic showdown under the lights in the $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida on Saturday night.

The Corkman walked away with $132,330 for his efforts aboard Alejandro, who beat Switzerland’s world number two Martin Fuchs and Clooney 51 into second place after a stunning gallop to the final fence, and it was, surprisingly, Sweetnam’s first ever five-star Grand Prix win.