Richie Moloney climbed atop the podium in the $70,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix CSI 2* during the highlight class of the week at Tryon International Equestrian Center Saturday, after piloting the Equinimity LLC entry Button Sitte around the night’s jump-off track in 38.336 seconds. 

Second place honors were captured by the USA’s Todd Minikus, riding to a final short course time of 38.402 seconds aboard Autumn View Farm’s Excel, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Douglas x Quick Star). Samuel Parot completed the second round of competition aboard his own 2003 Zangersheide gelding (Andiamo x Royal Bravour L) Atlantis, closing out the top three with the quickest time of 36.297 seconds, but adding four faults.

Moloney and the 2007 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Ogano Sitte x Parco) have been partnered together for nearly two and half years, and the duo have maintained a consistent record to date.

“He always jumps very well here,” he said. “He had some very good results in Wellington and he placed in the 1.50m final. He’s a very nice horse and very scopey. He’s lovely to work with and he’s a really sweet horse.”

“His strengths are his scope and how easy he is,” he continued. “Even during the week you don’t have to work too hard before a class. You just need to move him around a little bit. He’s very uncomplicated.”

The pair bested a field of 22 horse-and-rider combinations and returned to contest the Catalina Cruz course with five other competitors.

“It was a good course,” Moloney said. “The jump three to four sequence was quite difficult in the first round. Apart from that, I thought the course was a good course tonight.”

Tryon Summer V competition concluded Sunday with the $35,000 1.45m Sunday Classic CSI 2*. The Tryon Summer Series continues through Sunday, July 22, and features six weeks of international and national hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.

For more results, people may visit tryon.coth.com.

– Submitted by Tryon International Equestrian Center