TIPPERARY’s Trevor Breen scored another impressive result with his top mount when winning the two-star Grand Prix in Opglabbeek, Belgium, last Sunday. Aboard Willy Matton’s 10-year-old mare Bombay, the combination were winning their second Grand Prix in the space of a month.

One of 12 clears in the first round of the 1.50m class, Breen broke the beam in 40.01 seconds in the timed round, just fractions faster than Canada’s Eric Lamaze and Chesney in second place (0/0 40.31). Breen’s result earned him €6,250.

Belgium’s Pieter Clemens finished third with Calvino de Nyze Z (0/0 40.41), while Co Meath’s Cian O’Connor returned to action in Europe and completed a good result for Irish riders by filling fourth place with Clenur (0/0 40.69). The first four riders were all within the 40-second mark in the quick jump-off.

Speaking to The Irish Field this week, Breen said things have clicked with the Lord Z-sired grey mare, who is not the easiest to manage. “I got her at the end of her seven-year-old year, so I have had her for a while, but this is our second year stepping up.

“She is very tricky and difficult in a lot of ways – to travel, in the stables, she is just one of those funny mares that has taken time. She won a Grand Prix in Hickstead in September and it has gone from there. The penny has dropped now and she is going really well,” he said.

The West Sussex-based rider is looking forward to putting the green jacket back on for some Nations Cup competitions.

“I would like to do a couple of the lower tier Nations Cup and hopefully that will spring board me to do some of the five-star shows later in the year.”

WINNING STREAK

Co Antrim’s Shannon MacKenzie scored four wins at the Belgian show. She was victorious in Saturday’s two-star 1.35m two-phase special with the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse Bens Lady Lux (Lux Z x Cavalier Royale), the same mount she won last November’s one-star Grand Prix with at Cavan International.

She landed two one-star 1.10m classes on Friday and Saturday with Peyroux and Thursday’s 1.20m aboard Dyolita, the latter when clear in 27.50 seconds.

MacKenzie’s other result came in Saturday’s two-star 1.30m with the Irish Sport Horse Castletara Lady Lux (Lux Z x Cruising) when a clear round in 61.79 seconds saw them finish fourth.

Maynooth’s Hayley Dunne won Saturday’s one-star 1.15m with her own Cha Cha Z (Clintissimo Z x Darco).

Alexander Butler placed second in Saturday’s 1.45m jump-off class. Riding James Egan’s nine-year-old gelding Eldorado, Butler collected €1,000 when clear against the clock in 43.82 seconds.

Galway’s Tim MacDonagh was also double clear but in a slower time of 46.89 second for sixth place with his own Irish Sport Horse Hollypark Galloway.