Wins for Ireland’s Pender and Breen in UAE

Irish horses and riders dominated on the final day of action at Sharjah Equestrian in the United Arab Emirates, winning two major competitions.

Kildare’s Michael Pender and the Marion Hughes-bred HHS Cyprus stormed to victory in Sunday’s five-star 1m55 Winning Round. Ten combinations went through to the jump-off where Pender and the 9-year-old gelding produced the fastest of just two double clears to take the top prize of just over €35,000.
The only other double clear came from Britain’s Georgia Tame with Be Golden Lynx, while third place went to Germany’s David Will with the fastest four fault round aboard Xixo Borgia.

Earlier at the same venue, Tipperary’s Shane Breen and BP Arctic Blue, owned by Greg Broderick Ballypatrick Stables and Sophie Richards, put in a strong performance to win the two-star Grand Prix. A 10-horse jump-off saw Breen go clear in 32.59 to finish a second ahead of UAE runner-up Mohammed Ghanem Al Hajri with Lelielounka STW. Breen went on to finish fifth in the five-star World Cup Grand Prix with the 12-year-old gelding Scarteen.

BREEDING
HHS Cyprus (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Cornet Obolensky (BWP) out of HHS Acorado (ISH) by Acorado (Holst). Bred by Marion Hughes. Owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd. Ridden by Mikey Pender (IRL)