TIPPERARY’s Shane Breen and the Carmel Ryan-owned Irish-bred stallion Compelling Z put in a gallant attempt to take the runner-up spot in the 1.55m class at the four-star show in Salzburg, Austria last Saturday.

British-based Breen has just recently taken over the ride on the nine-year-old stallion by Chellano Z out of the Carthago Z-sired mare Cara Mia Z. He was produced by Ireland’s Peter Moloney through the ranks and the pair made their Nations Cup debut in Denmark in 2018.

Some 52 combinations went to post and from those, just five delivered clears. Breen was pipped at the post by Polish rider Andrzej Oplatek who stopped the clock in 41.57 seconds aboard Stakkatan.

Breen also took the runner-up spot in Saturday’s 1.50m Table A when he guided Prince Torki Saud’s 10-year-old mare Evita to a clear round in 61.97 seconds.

The pair were one of 13 clears and less than a second behind the winner, South Africa’s Alexa Stais and Quintato, who posted the winning round in 61.23.

In Thursday’s European Youngster Cup U25 opening 1.40m class, Harry Allen took fifth place aboard Dis Moi Tout de Clairbois. The pairing lodged the fastest time of 63.09 but paid the price with one pole on the floor.

On Friday, the combination upped the ante to take third in the European Youngster Cup U25 Kat.S* 1.45m, this time breaking the beam in a time of 69.64.