OFFALY’S Darragh Kenny has taken Florida by storm since his return to the competition ranks just three weeks ago and five-star success at Wellington International over the weekend has added to his growing tally of wins.

The highlight of week nine of the Winter Equestrian Festival was the five-star $500,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix, which saw 39 horses and riders (including six of the top 10 riders in the world) line up to contest the very generous prize fund. Only nine of those jumped clear first time out to book their place against the clock, with five of them keeping all the fences standing second time round. Kenny and the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Eddy Blue, owned by Carol Sollak, were second last to go and showed both speed and accuracy when they were among the double clear rounds, clocking the fastest time of the class in 41.77 seconds to take home the $150,000 winner’s prize. This being the pair’s first five-star Grand Prix win at the venue. In an incredible finish, Australia’s Thaisa Erwin on Hialita B and the USA’s Marilyn Little on La Contessa both clocked 41.92 in the jump-off to share second place, each taking home $87,500.