KILDARE’S Michael Pender claimed a fabulous second place in Saturday’s five-star €500,000 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes in France with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky x HHS Acorado by Acorado), bred by Marion Hughes. The class had a start list of 40, of whom just four combinations jumped clear in the first round for the chance to jump again; three of them completed double clear rounds to claim their well-deserved podium places.
Pender and his mount were the first pair to go clear and jumped a flawless double clear round in a jump-off time of 41.35. The Irish pair were only beaten by Belgium’s Abdel Said on Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof, who stopped the clock in 39.44 - this 12-year-old being more experienced and able to cover the ground and turn at speed. Third place went to Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) on Cellagon Cascais in a time of 43.44. Pender took home a very generous €100,000 for second place, while Said took the winner’s prize of €165,000.
A happy Pender said afterwards: “I am absolutely delighted! Cyprus is only 10 and this is the first time jumping an LGCT Grand Prix and one of this size, so I couldn’t be more delighted with second place. Normally, I may not be happy with second… but he really stepped up to the game.”
Irish Horse Board Director General Alison Corbally commented: “This was a fantastic performance from Mikey and HHS Cyprus against a world-class field. Irish-bred horses have had a brilliant run of results on the international stage in recent weeks and this result for Mikey and the breeder of HHS Cyprus, Marion Hughes, adds to that success.”
The current overall LGCT individual standings after the fifth leg see Pender in sixth place on 82 points, not far behind Cian O’Connor in fourth place on 85. France’s Simon Delestre is the current leader on 118.67 points, with 10 legs still to go.
Top 10
The Longines Global Champions Tour moved to Cannes in France over the weekend, with classes running from Thursday until Saturday.
In Thursday’s five-star 1.60m Global Champions League Individual competition, Pender placed ninth on board HHS Cyprus, in a class where only two of the 21 starters finished without fault - Efe Siyahi (TUR) on Cantate in first and Kristen Vanderveen (USA) on Bull Run’s Jireh in second.
The first round of the GCL team competition on Thursday, a 1.60m speed class, saw Tipperary’s Max Wachman ride Fancy de Kergane into 10th place, when picking up just two-time penalties. However, Wachman’s team mate Scott Brash (GBR) rode Hello Jefferson to a clear round in 64.16 to take first place individually and their combined scores put their New York Empire team into first place after round one.
The GCL Second competition, a 1.55m speed class, saw Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon ride the 10-year-old mare Casalla Blue PS (for Riesenbeck International) into third place, with Wachman and Fancy de Kergane jumping again and bettering their first-round placing to claim fifth place this time round. Brash jumped Hello Chadora Lady this time and placed fourth, and between the two New York Empire riders’ efforts, their team remained in first place, with Doha Falcons in second.
The points added from this fifth leg put New York Empire in fourth place on the overall leaderboard on a total of 83, with Prague Lions currently in the lead on 89.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Wachman following his team’s success. “To win anywhere on the GCL circuit is special, but to do it here in Cannes with this atmosphere is great. The crowd was incredible and there was such a great buzz around the arena. A huge thank you has to go to our team owner Georgina (Bloom) for the opportunity and everyone involved with New York Empire team.”