Moloney Climbs to Top in $70,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix CSI 2*

Mill Spring, N.C. – July 14, 2018 – 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.

Richie Moloney and Button Sitte

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.

Todd Minikus and Excel

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.”

Samuel Parot and Atlantis

“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.”

Moloney has been based at the venue for the majority of the Tryon Summer Series and had positive words for the facility and the “Saturday Night Lights” competition in general. “It’s a great facility and there’s always a great atmosphere and a great crowd here to watch,” he concluded. “He [Button Sitte] also prefers the atmosphere under the lights. He’s good in smaller arenas like this because you have to keep turning and jumps are always in front of you.”

Richie Moloney, Todd Minikus, and Samuel Parot in their awards presentation with Carolina Arena Equipment Owner David Detweiler and Show Manager JP Godard.

Tryon Summer V competition concludes tomorrow, July 15, featuring the $35,000 1.45m Sunday Classic CSI 2* beginning at 9:00 a.m. on the Derby Field at TIEC. The Tryon Summer Series continues through Sunday, July 22, and features six weeks of international and national hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.

Groom Jesus Pimentel was presented with the Absorbine Groom’s Award for his care and dedication to the winning equine athlete, Button Sitte.

RESULTS

$70,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix CSI 2*
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Button Sitte / Richie Moloney / 0 | 81.71 / 0 | 38.336
2. Excel / Todd Minikus / 0 | 81.93 / 0 | 38.402
3. Atlantis / Samuel Parot / 0 | 72 / 4 | 36.297
4. VDL Wizard / Callan Solem / 0 | 82.28 / 4 | 38.843
5. Kirschwasser Scf / David O’brien / 0 / 80.78 / 8 | 39.947
6. MTM Reve Du Paradis / Tracy Fenney / 0 | 80.99 / 12 | 39.85
7. Boudika Ideal Home / Kady Abrahamson / 4 | 78.4
8. Tradition De La Roque / Reed Kessler / 4 | 81.83
9. MTM Vivre Le Reve / Brian Moggre / 4 | 82.15
10. Igor Van De Heibos / Tracy Fenney / 4 | 82.33
11. Express Blue Gp Du Bois Madame / Caitlyn Connors / 4 | 82.43
12. Malou / Sarah Bagworth / 4 | 82.81

For full results, click here.

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