IRISH riders may not have featured in Saturday’s two-star $62,500 BrainWater 1.45m Grand Prix at week 11 of the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International, but the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Rincoola Milsean, bred by the late Harold McGahern, certainly did, winning the class in style with Charlotte Jacobs (USA) in the saddle. There were 45 starters in the class, with nine of them jumping clear within the time over the first-round track to proceed to the jump-off. Just five combinations managed to complete double clear rounds, with Jacobs and her chesnut mount doing so in the fastest time of 38.3 seconds. They were a second and a half quicker than next best Rupert Carl Winkelmann (GER) on Imodo, who stopped the clock in 39.84.

Wednesday’s four-star $6,000 1.45m two-phase special class saw Derry’s Jordan Coyle and For Gold finish in sixth place from 56 starters. Coyle and his mount jumped clear all the way in a phase two time of 31.91. Ashlee Bond (ISR) won the class with Comme Ci Comme Ca in a speedy 27.97.