Source:  News Release

Kilkenny's Richie Moloney and The Irish Sport Horse Slievanorra win Lexington opener in the USA

This week's international Show Jumping action got underway in the early hours of this morning, with an Irish victory in the $35,000 Welcome Speed class at the four-star CP National at Lexington, Kentucky USA.

Kilkenny's Richie Moloney and the Irish Sport Horse Slieveanorra, owned by Equinimity LLC, outpaced America's Jessica Springsteen to take the winners prize.
"It feels great to win here," said Moloney. "It's the first day so you never know what may happen. It's a nice way to start the week!"

Forty-three combinations navigated the Michel Vaillancourt-designed course, but only 12 successfully finished with no faults. Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Davendy S, owned by Stone Hill Farm, held the lead for the majority of the class as second in the order-of-go with a clear time of 60.62 seconds, but by the end of the night their time would be second best to Moloney's.

Moloney has had the ride on Slieveanorra, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, bred by Ronnie Hollinger from Co. Monaghan, for five years, and has picked up multiple Grand Prix wins throughout their career.
"I was a little bit lucky at the combination, but it stayed up," said Moloney. "He's jumped many Grand Prix events. Now we are doing speed classes and he's enjoying himself. He will do the speed Thursday and Friday. In Saturday's Grand Prix, I will be on Carrabis Z."
Cork's Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Siboney Ranch's Cornwall slotted into fifth place with a clear round in 64.26 seconds. 

Irish riders will be in action around the globe this week. The Longines Global Champions Tour comes to a conclusion at Doha in Qatar where Bertram Allen, Cian O'Connor and Denis Lynch will fly the Irish flag. Along with four-star jumping at Lexington in the USA, a host of European shows take place over the coming days in Spain, The Netherlands and Poland. 


BREEDING: Slieveanorra (ISH) – 2002 gelding by Voltaire (HANN) out of Creevagh Quaich (ISH), by Flagmount Diamond (ID). Breeder: Ronnie Hollinger, Co. Monaghan. Owner: Equinimity LLC & Richie Moloney. Rider: Richie Moloney (IRL)