GALWAY’S Michael Duffy continues in flying form on the Longines Global Champions Tour and the Miami Beach winner bagged another five-star podium finish when runner-up in the second competition of the Longines Global Champions League in Shanghai on Saturday,

This was a return to China for the Tour after a four-year absence, with the action taking place at the purpose-built Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Centre, and Duffy certainly relished the surroundings.

The 29-year-old Turloughmore native saddled Cantano 32 for the 1.60m class against the clock, and the ten-year-old gelding he co-owns stepped up to the plate with a career-best performance.

The class winner, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, did an impressive job to post a clear round in the fastest time despite being just third into the arena, his time of 71.20 seconds proving beyond all 34 combinations and earning the Brazilian top prize of €41,550.

Duffy and Cantano 32 were drawn in 19 and the Irishman showed that he had been watching closely, eking out not just one of only nine clear rounds but doing so in a fast time of 73.51 that slipped him into second and proved too hot for the remaining combos to handle.

“I’m very pleased with Cantano,” said Duffy afterwards. “He’s an extremely talented horse  – just ten years old now but has so much ability. Jumping at this level comes so easy to him and he’s answered everything asked of him since joining my string last year.

“Even tonight, this track proved very technical and big and was difficult for a lot of combinations under the lights in this arena and only a few clear rounds to finish, but he makes it look easy and I’m thrilled to have him.”

Duffy and Cantana 32 rounded off a successful trip to China with another brilliant podium finish the following day in the €600,000 LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai.

A winner of the LGCT Grand Prix at Miami Beach on Claptonn Mouche, Duffy was again effusive in his praise of Cantano 32 and his assertion that the progressive bay was a star of the future gained further credence by jumping one of only seven clear rounds in an arena with 16 obstacles

Fourth into the ring in the jump-off, they actually bettered the time of winner Gilles Thomas (Belgium) and Luna van het Dennehof, who posted 42.56 seconds as the first combination into the ring.

Duffy and Cantano 32 stopped the clock on 42.32, but heartbreakingly knocked a poll at the last to end hopes of a famous double, though the €90,000 for third place and an overall standing of fourth provided ample consolation.

Pictured: Galway showjumper Michael Duffy and Cantano 32 on their way to finishing second at the Longines Global Champions League in Shanghai last Saturday. The in-form partnership went on to come third in the €600,000 LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai the following day.