THERE was another Irish victory at the spectacular Longines Champions Tour venue in Mexico City when Co Cork’s Shane Sweetnam won Friday’s 1.45m two-phase class at the five-star show.

Riding his long-term partner, Spy Coast Farm’s 17-year-old Swedish-bred stallion Cyklon, Sweetnam collected €16,500 when he was clear in 19.33 seconds. Galway’s Michael Duffy was also in the ribbons when he partnered Jule van den Tinnenpot to a clear in 19.71 for eventual fourth, while Shane Breen and CSF Vendi Cruz took ninth place, clear in 20.39. Denis Lynch on RMF Echo accounted for tenth place, when they also put in a foot-perfect performance in a time of 20.39.

Breen and Brian Cassidy’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse CSF Vendi Cruz (ARS Vivendix Cruising) also featured in the line-up on the opening day when finishing second in the 1.45m speed class. As the early leader, Breen delivered a foot-perfect performance in 62.70, but was overtaken by Spain’s Eduardo Álvarez Aznar and Fidux, who finished over two seconds faster in a time of 60.08. They also placed fifth in Sunday’s 1.50m with yet another clear round, when Sweetnam was second with Cyklon (0/54.99) and Offaly’s Darragh Kenny third aboard Team de Coquerie (0/55.71).

Britain’s Scott Brash won the first Global Champions Tour of 2018 with Ursula XII, qualifying himself early for December’s Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix in Prague.