Equestrian:Olympic bronze medallist Cian O'Connor won his second major class of the week at the London International Horse Show today.
Irishman O’Connor and the 13-year-old Splendor followed up Wednesday night’s Christmas Pudding Stakes victory by taking the Santa Stakes in impressive fashion.
They were more than a second clear of runner-up Penelope Leprevost after seven horses from a 27-strong field made the jump-off.
French challenger Leprevost and Nice Stephanie edged Portugal’s Luciana Diniz (Fit for Fun) into third, with leading British contender Michael Whitaker (fourth) and London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton (Heracross) fifth.
O’Connor’s latest win took him into eighth place in the race to become Olympia’s leading rider of the show this year with just over three days’ competition left.
The 33-year-old said: “It’s always great to win any class, but hearing your national anthem in London is very special. This little city has been lucky for me this year.”