GALWAY rider Michael Duffy pulled off the biggest triumph of his showjumping career thanks to a brilliant victory on a unforgettable weekend in Miami.

For the Turloughmore native overcame a stacked field of global superstars in Saturday’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Miami Beach.

Duffy and Claptonn Mouche recorded the only double clear to bag the €115,500 first prize, just a day after the partnership had also gone around the famed arena without a blemish to help Rome Gladiators win the Global Champions League class.

He now moves to fourth place in the overall standings after two legs thanks to the 40 points accumulated for taking the top spot on the podium.

Spanish rider, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar is the current overall leader, thanks to his fourth-place finish on Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot.

There were two other Irish riders in the top ten, as Corkman Shane Sweetnam had one pole down on Rr Combella in the jump-off to take seventh, one spot ahead of Castledermot native Michael Pender, who had eight faults on HHS Calais.

But it was Duffy who was the toast of Miami Beach on what has been a stellar few days for Irish showjumping, bagging his first ever five-star Grand Prix. It is a triumph that earns him a coveted golden ticket to the end-of-season Super Grand Prix in Riyadh.

Remarkably, he has only been riding Claptonn Mouche, the 12-year-old gelding he co-owns with Stephex Stables, a matter of months but the connection has been instant.

Duffy kept his cool as he focussed on getting around the jump-off without any errors and his partner answered every call on a famous Floridian night.

Pictured: Galway showjumper Michael Duffy celebrates winning the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Miami Beach on Saturday.