LORCAN Gallagher landed the $100,000 Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix at Desert International Horse Park last Saturday night aboard Hot Horses LLC’s 13-year-old mare Cana Van De Blom.

From 37 combinations who started over the 1.50m track, just four progressed to the jump-off, where the Newry man changed his plan and was the only one to produce a second clear round to take the top spot on the podium.

USA’s Simonne Berg finished second with four faults on Cooper, ahead of USA’s Jamie Taylor in third. Taylor picked up 13 faults in the jump-off with Quarter 3.

Speaking afterwards, Gallagher said: “Walking the course, it was a little tricky. The courses this week were good but they did ride a bit challenging. I think we saw that in the number of clears; the other night there were only a couple out of 65 horses. Same with tonight – it was big and built to height, but I think it was a fair task for the amount of money being offered.

“When I walked the jump-off, I wasn’t sure if the inside turn would be faster, so I changed my plan after watching the first two because it looked like the slower option and the first two had a rail. I thought first and foremost I should be clear. That way the guys behind me have to beat me rather than me making a mistake.”

Speaking about his horse, who he began riding in April, he added: “She’s very careful; we were a bit unlucky last week but she placed in the CSI3* Grand Prix. She’s got a great mind, she’s very easy to work with, and she makes my job quite easy.

“She belongs to Hot Horses LLC, who train with Craig and Tina Yates at Highpoint Farm. At the beginning of the year, Tina was expecting their third baby and asked me to step in and help with the riding, so I started riding the horse at the end of April. We did a little bit on the east coast during the summer and this is my last trip over to California. The horses will go to Florida after here for the winter in Wellington and we’ll aim her for some of the FEI weeks there.”