KILKENNY’S Richie Moloney recorded the only zero score in the jump-off for the World Cup Qualifier at North Salem, New York tonight (Sunday) and took the Longines trophy along with 62,000 euro in prize money.
Riding Equinimity Llc’s 12 year-old stallion Carrabis Z, Moloney produced a clear first round and was one of just six from a starting field of 37 to make it through to the jump-off.
Fourth to go, the Irish rider was the only competitor to leave all the poles standing on the shortened course and delivered the competition’s only double clear round. The US rider Laura Kraut aboard Deauville S recorded a faster time than Moloney but had to settle for the runner-up spot after clipping a fence for four faults.
Cork’s Shane Sweetnam also featured in the top ten, with an eighth place on Chaqui Z after collecting four faults in a fast first round.
On Saturday 33 year-old Moloney also won the Speed Derby at North Salem, this time riding the 14 year-old gelding Alsvid and adding a further 10,000 euro to to takings from the show. Other Irish riders also featured in the Derby, with Lorcan Gallagher and Esquina van Klapscheut finishing third and Ronan McGuigan with Capall Zidane fourth.
Limerick’s Paul O’Shea also claimed a second place for Ireland in the four-star show’s Saturday evening jump-off feature class, collecting 15,000 euro after Laura Kraut and Andretti S beat him to the 25,000 euro first prize by just over a second.
