Richie Moloney (IRL) 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 (TIEC), 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 (CHI) 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 commented. "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 (MEX) course with five other competitors. Of the course, Moloney said, "It was a good course. 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." For full results from the $70,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix CSI 2*, click here.
