TIPPERARY’S Shane Breen claimed the first Irish World Cup win of the 2026 season when he rode the 10-year-old gelding BP Arctic Blue to a decisive victory in Sunday’s four-star Al Shira’aa Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The pair showed their class when recording the only double clear in the competition.
The 1.60m class was the crescendo of the show - and of the Irish successes – with a total of 50 combinations lining up to compete for the generous prize fund. Thirteen of these proceeded to the second round, with Breen the only competitor to remain fault-free.
Breen and his equine partner were rewarded for their efforts with the top prize of €80,000. Italy’s Guido Grimaldi on Gentleman were next best to claim the €64,000 second prize, with the on-form Alexander McLean (GBR) on Calixte Heartbreaker Z in third (€48,000).
Kildare's Michael Pender on the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare HHS Los Angeles (Le Roi x China Cavalier by Cavalier Royale), bred by Marion Hughes, secured fourth place in the class and took home a very nice prize of €32,000. David Simpson and Billy Fern also made it through to the jump-off, but incurred faults to finish in 12th place.
Breen commented afterwards: “I knew a lot of the fast combinations were to follow, so my idea was just to stick to the plan. I had some doubts about the plank, but it worked out. It was great.”
In the ribbons
Competition began at Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and saw Shane Breen get off the mark with a fourth place in the one-star Young Horse 1.30m seven-year-old Classic riding Z7 for T to a double clear round in a time of 34.17. Britain’s Alexander McLean rode the well-named Opportunity to take first place in 32.73.
Breen followed this up by going one place better the next day, when he and Z7 for T finishing on the podium in third (60.05) in Thursday’s 27-strong one-star Young Horse 1.35m speed class, behind Salim Ahmed Al Suwaidi (UAE) on Celina 235 in first (58.89) and McLean (GBR) on Opportunity in second (60.04).
Not to be outdone by his brother, Trevor Breen then claimed a podium finish in Thursday’s four-star 1.40m two-phase special, when he placed third out of 50 starters on board Konrad Obolensky (34.99). The win went to Kristaps Neretnieks (LAT) on Sir Schmidt (34.23). David Simpson and Punch d’Anvers placed eighth when clear in 38.79.
Shane Breen and BP Arctic Blue winning the Abu Dhabi World Cup Grand Prix at the Al Shira'aa International Horse Show 2026 \ Helen Cruden
Runner-up
The day also saw a runner-up position for Pender on the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare HHS Orchidee (Le Roi x HHS Tiffany by Luidam), bred by Miguel Bravo, from 63 starters in the four-star 1.45m two-phase special. It was a close finish, with Pender’s time of 35.54 a mere 0.04 seconds behind the winning time of 35.50 set by Shady Ghrayeb (SYR) on Cabernet de Mars.
Friday’s four-star 1.45m jump-off class saw Shane Breen ride Be Alcantara into fifth place out of 46 starters, 12 of whom had made their way through to the jump-off by jumping a clear first round. Breen was among seven who completed double clear, with his time of 40.96 just off the pace of winner Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (UAE) on Emeraude de Zabala (37.50).
On Saturday, Trevor Breen and Konrad Obolensky placed fifth in the four-star 1.45m speed and handiness class in a time of 115.09. The winner was Ines Joly (FRA) on Faylinn de Fondcombe in a speedy 108.65.
Shane Breen and Z7 for T were 10th in Sunday’s one-star Young Horse 1.30m seven-year-old Classic final, where McLean (GBR) and Opportunity claimed another win.
Sunday’s 36-strong four-star 1.45m speed and handiness class saw a third-place finish for Simpson on Pjotr van de Kruishoeve in 83.46, with the top spot going to Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann on Glamour Girl (80.16). Sophie Hinner (GER) on Come Away Flamingo Z were second in 81.51.
Doha
Meanwhile at the five-star fixture in Doha, Qatar, the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding EIC Cooley Jump the Q (Pacino x Jump The Q by OBOS Quality 004), bred by Pam Walshe, was ridden into third place in Thursday’s 1.50m speed class by Austria’s Max Kuhner. Their time of 67.46 could not match that of winner Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) and Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior (64.45).