O’Connor launches seven-strong Florida offensive

CIAN O’CONNOR is launching an offensive on the Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach, Florida, flying seven horses to the 10-week long event and taking up the reins of a new addition to his string.

His new horse is called Complete and O’Connor is anticipating immediate results from the 10-year-old, Danish-bred chestnut gelding.

“I got a call about him when I was competing in La Coruna in Spain just before Christmas and went over two days later to try him out, says O’Connor. “I secured the support of a couple of owners and, as soon as I tried him, I fell in love with him. He is very careful and willing, which is his biggest attribute.

“He was ridden by a US amateur and then a US-based Danish professional, with whom he quickly won $50,000.

“He tries hard and can jump in the big classes straight away,” says O’Connor, who rejects he is a replacement for Waterford Crystal, but, rather, will take the pressure off Irish Independent Echo Beach.

Joining Complete in the States this week were Echo Beach, Markopoulo, the seven-year-old stallion Icon, two mares, Usija and Caipi, and two offspring by Tipperary vet Tom Meagher’s stallion Lux: the mare PS I Love You and the six-year-old gelding Uluxion, who was sourced in Germany and is described by O’Connor as one of his most promising horses.

This is the first time O’Connor has brought his mounts across the Atlantic, having previously ridden borrowed horses at the festival. His decision to travel came about after glass manufacturer Waterford Crystal — closely linked with O’Connor through his godfather, the company’s non-executive chairman Tony O’Reilly — entered into a sponsorship arrangement with the festival organisers.

“The organisers are keen to attract European riders and are very supportive,” he says, without giving away any details of his deal.

The festival, billed as “the world’s largest and longest-running equestrian competitions”, boasts $4m in prize money and begins next Wednesday at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, before relocating to Tampa for two weeks. Aside from weekly classes and a grand prix every Sunday, it features three World Cup qualifying classes for the April FEI final in Las Vegas and the season's first nations cup.