It’s yet another international Grand Prix win for Kenny

Darragh Kenny and Scarlett du Sart Z in their winning presentation with Kelly Nicholls, VP North America of Horseware Ireland, Jillian Nicholls, and ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo: Sportfot

Riding Scarlett du Sart Z, owned by Vlock Show Stables LLC, world number seven Kenny was one of 12 combinations to make it into the jump-off. He crossed the line clear in 33.54 seconds to claim victory ahead of Israel’s Sydney Shulman with J-Boston S.E (33.96).

“I’ve been very lucky – I had a good winter and all the horses went very well,” said Kenny of his season at WEF.

“I had a great feeling coming into this winter because I have an incredible group of horses, and I’m very lucky that I have those horses.”

Darragh Kenny and Scarlett du Sart Z (Photo: Sportfot)

Kenny got the ride on Scarlett du Sart Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide mare (Stakkato de hann x First Bride), when the horse was seven-years-old and has high hopes for the mare’s future, saying: “This is a mare that Teddy Vlock and his owner bought for me, and we’ve been slowly producing her. She’s really starting to turn a corner, and I think she’s an incredibly talented horse that will end up jumping at the highest level.

“I didn’t get to see Sydney go, but Hardin [Towell] said to me that she was very fast so I was going to have to do everything to beat her,” continued Kenny.

“I was lucky I got a good shot to the third-to-last jump, which meant I could do seven to the second to the last, which I think was less than everyone else and where I won it.”

The final competition at the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida was the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1m50.

Meanwhile at the Palm Beach Masters, which are also taking place in Florida, Co Down’s Conor Swail and GK Coco Chanel finished as runners-up in Saturday’s $137,000 CSI5* Palm Beach Masters Classic.

Last to go in a 12-horse jump-off, Swail finished just behind British winner Emily Moffitt with Tipsy du Terral. Billy Twomey (Kimba Flamenco) and Darragh Kenny (Billy Dorito) also made it into the jump-off and finished in ninth and tenth places respectively.

The Palm Beach Masters came to a close with the $300,000 CP Palm Beach Masters Final, which was likely to be the last live equestrian action to take place around the globe for a number of weeks.