Ireland’s Darragh Kenny claimed the top two placings in Friday’s featured 1.45m speed class in Wellington, Florida.

The County Offaly-born rider, who turned 27 earlier this week, finished first with Oakland Ventures’ Picolo (57.13), the 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly on which he won eight FEI classes in 2014. Darragh’s second-placed mount was the Irish Sport Horse stallion Gatsby (57.87), an 11-year-old by Simba.

The USA's Jessica Springsteen finished third on Davendy S (58.20) while Co Down's Conor Swail slotted into fourth on Grand Cru VD Jijf Eiken. Wellington's major event of the week, the World Cup class, begins at midnight Irish time.

There are no Irish riders competing in the Winter Equestrian Festival's inaugural €50,000 eventing showcase but, after Friday's dressage phase, the top spot is held by the USA's Boyd Martin riding the ISH gelding Trading Aces, an 11-year-old bay gelding by Coevers Diamond Boy.