KILDARE show jumper Mikey Pender dominated the two-star Grand Prix in Vilamoura, Portugal, on Monday, taking victory and second place with two Irish Sport Horses to earn just over €11,000.

Fifty-one combinations started over the 1.45m track, and just seven managed to produce a clear first round. Pender was best against the clock with Bravo Hughes’ nine-year-old HHS Calais, breaking the beam in 34.04 seconds.

Bred in Co Kilkenny by Ita Brennan, the Cavalier Royale-sired gelding is out of MHS Obos Cruise (OBOS Quality), whose 2012 son MHS Ferhill Showtime (also by Cavalier Royale) is jumping at international level under Ireland’s Kate Derwin.

Pender slotted into second place with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse HHS Burnchurch. Bred by Marion Hughes and by Heritage Fortunas, who was campaigned by Hughes at the 2004 Olympic Games, Burnchurch is out of the Cavalier Royale-sired China Cavalier, who has sired multiple 1.40m campaigners including HHS Fast Forward, HHS Falso and HHS Fafa.

Speaking afterwards, Pender said: “The horses jumped super and I am absolutely delighted to get back to the shows and get doing what we do. Both horses were very good today, I am absolutely delighted.”