IRELAND'S Richie Moloney had just under a second in hand when winning last night's (Friday) speed class at the four-star show in Wellington, Florida.

The Kilkenny-bornrider and Equinimity LLC's gelding Alsvid entered the international ring in the middle of the 40-horse start list, several rounds afterclass leader, the USA's Kent Farrington, posted the quickest time aboard the 13-year-old Blue Angel.

Once established at the top of the leaderboard after shaving over a second off Farrington's time, Moloney could not be caught, with only the USA's Ali Wolff with Artemis coming close. At the finish the Irishman took the winner's laurels, with Wolff in second and Farrington in third.

Close behind Farrington in fourth place came Co. Down's Conor Swail with Susan and Ariel Grange's nine year-old mare Cita.

Moloney said about his winning mount: ""He's very good in these types of classes and has proven to be very consistent this season placing in the top three at leastfive times since the beginning of the summer. It was a strong class today, and I felt very good about his performance."

Meanwhile at the World Cup show at Madrid in Spain yesterday, Tipperary's Denis Lynch claimed fourth place in the Prize of Mitsubishi Speed class with Thomas Straumann'sAbbervail van het Dingeshof. First place went to France's Roger Yves Bost andPegase du Murier.