SHANE Breen and Cato Boy (Commissario x Böckmann’s Lord Pezi) won last Thursday’s big five-star class of the day at the Deutsches Spring und Dressur Derby event in Hamburg, following on from another success at the German event the day before.

Breen and Nikki Rutter Giaponne’s massive 11-year-old had a good draw as 41 of 45 participants, and by then Koen Vereecke (BEL) and Oilily de Muze had the advantage with a clear in 62.85. Vereecke could only look on helplessly, however, as Breen used Cato Boy’s huge stride to stellar effect, finishing in 62.48 to land the garlands. David Simpson was fifth here on Ovidius vd Donkhoeve and it was his second top five outing, as he filled the same position in a 1.55m class on Thursday with a double clear on Pjotr van de Kruishoeve.

Breen also took second in Wednesday’s CSI5* 1.45m two-phase with Scarteen (Golden Hawk x Chellano, bred by Breen Equestrian Ltd).

Also in Hamburg, Thomas Ryan was triumphant with Jezebeau BC in a three-star speed contest at 1.45m level and Emily Turkington bagged a silver medal with Cornet in a four-star competition on Thursday.

Hamburg proved a happy hunting ground for the 10-year-old mare BH Gringos Legacy (ISH), bred in Co Laois by Kieran Phelan and ridden by Guy Williams (GBR), who stormed to victory in Friday’s second qualifier for the feature German Jumping-Derby.

They finished a full eight seconds ahead of the next best challenger while fourth place went to the Jerry Quinn-bred Hawthorn Hill (ISH by Cardento) and Commandant Geoff Curran.

On Wednesday in Hamburg, Army rider Curran guided DHF Alliance (ISH) to victory in the opening 1.40m international class, while a profitable week for the Irish also included a wins for Ciaran Nallon who took Wednesday’s Al Shira’aa Derby Tour 1.45m speed class with Be Wineham. Nallon was also 10th in Sunday’s feature derby final with Dominate Me.

Over in Munich, Thomas Ryan registered the first of his two three-star triumphs in Thursday’s 1.45m speed class, clearing the 14 jumps without fault and the quickest (75.93) at the Pferd International with Jezebeau BC.

Jaroslaw Skrzyczynski (POL) and Inturido were second on 76.35 and the Pole had to give best to Ryan once more on Saturday, as the Tipperary athlete recorded the only double clear with Connoisseur PWR to claim the spoils.