OFFALY’s Darragh Kenny finished third on the podium in the $226,000 Horseware Ireland CSI4* Grand Prix under the glow of ‘Saturday Night Lights’ during week 10 of the Winter Equestrian Festival, where victory went to USA Olympian Kent Farrington with Toulayna.

Stepping up to the biggest test of her career to date, the nine-year-old Zangersheide mare could not be caught over the Andy Christiansen Jr-designed jump-off track and ticked the box for her first Grand Prix win. Nine horses advanced to the tie-breaking short course where the lead changed five times.

Farrington’s Tokyo teammate Jessica Springsteen set the pace with the first clear round aboard her Olympic mount Don Juan van de Donkhoev. Their time of 39.58 seconds was soon eclipsed by fellow US rider Lillie Keenan on Agana van het Gerendal Z in 39.10 seconds.

Ireland’s sole representative in the Horseware Ireland Grand Prix was Darragh Kenny with Vlock Show Stables’ Amsterdam 27. They stole the lead from Keenan and stopped the clock at 38.94 seconds before Nicole Shahinian-Simpson took it back for the US in 37.94 seconds. Farrington did just enough to seal the deal by stopping the timers at 37.38 seconds.

“This is definitely the biggest track she’s jumped,” said Farrington of his winner. “I have high hopes for this horse. She’s fast, careful and everything I like in a show jumper.”

Kenny was delighted with 13-year-old Amsterdam who went to the Tokyo Olympics with Israel’s Teddy Vlock, who Kenny coaches, and who was only jumping his second show since those Games in 2021.

“It’s a great feeling to finish third here under the lights with Amsterdam - big thanks to the whole Vlock team for this one,” Kenny commented.

On Friday, Shane Sweetnam took fourth place in the $39,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty 1.45m. Riding Holliewood he kept all the poles in place in a time of 63.75.

It was also a good show for Dan Geaney, who placed second in $50,000 Hermès U25 Final aboard Pine Hollow Farm’s Nixon Van D’Abelendreef.

Geaney also took the honours in the U25 Welcome Stakes.