KILDARE teenager Mikey Pender landed an impressive victory in a three-star ranking class win at the World Cup show in Abu Dhabi last Saturday aboard Z7 Cordanos V.

The 17-year-old, who rides for Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes, guided Team Z7’s 11-year-old by Catoki to the fastest round in the 10-horse jump-off in a time of 36.44 seconds. Pender picked up AED 49,500 (approx. €12,800) for his win.

Pender took over the ride on Z7 Cordanos V last summer and has racked up a number of good results, including a wins at a three-star World Cup show in Tetouan, Morocco, and at the two-star tour in Mijas, Spain, in November.

Marion Hughes slotted into fourth place in the class with Can Ya Makan with a clear round in a time of 39.40 seconds, with her husband, Portugal’s Miguel Bravo in fifth with Cash Up (0/0 44.02). Franch rider Adeline Hecart took the runner-up position with Question D’Orval (0/0 38.50), and Germany’s David Will finished in third place aboard Cento Du Rouet (0/0 38.90).

RUNNER-UP

Last Friday, Hughes scored a runner-up finish in a two-phase class, missing out on the top spot by less than half a second aboard Team Z7’s Laith. She guided the 10-year-old by Lord Z to a lightning fast double clear in 28.62 seconds to slot in behind Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Abdulaziz AL EID and Valuta S (0/0 28.02).

Pender also produced one of 10 double clears to place eighth with the Irish Sport Horse HHS Hercules (0/0 30.53).

Hughes was once again in the placings in Friday’s Grand Prix qualifier, posting a podium finish with Can Ya Makan.

Twelve combinations managed to jump clear in the one round Longines rankings class and Hughes was the third fastest in a time of 67.52 seconds with the 11-year-old Canturo-sired stallion.

Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which had Arab league World Cup points on offer, went the way of Germany’s David Will and the Cruising-sired chesnut mare Mic Mac Du Tillard.

With only four first round clears, Pender’s fast four faults with HHS Hercules saw him through to the jump-off. The pair finished with one fence on the ground for a total of eight faults and seventh place.

Hughes was out of luck in the opening round, faulting twice with Laith.