IRISH riders capped off a fantastic weekend at Sharjah, UAE, on Sunday with a pair of wins and a podium finish in the five-star Grand Prix.
Tipperary’s Shane Breen kicked things off with a hugely impressive success in the 1.45m two-star Grand Prix on his new mare Instrumental, before on-fire Jessica Burke added a second five-star win of the weekend, this time in the 1.55m on board the Irish Sport Horse Express Trend.
Not to be outdone, Trevor Breen wrapped up the Middle Eastern tour with a superb double clear on Germaine W to finish an excellent third place in the €160,000 five-star Grand Prix, with Billy Twomey also in the placings. It was a competitive affair with 12 of the starting 38 progressing to the jump-off.
Riding Mandy Hall’s 12-year-old mare Germaine W, Breen was one of just three to produce a second clear; he did so in 51.41 to earn €24,000.
Victory went to Emanuele Gaudiano with Chalou in 45.81 seconds. Portugal’s Duarte Seabra took the runner-up spot with Carol Gee’s Dourados 2 (0/0 48.05). Twomey finished in sixth place after four faults against the clock with the late Sue Davies’ Chat Botte E.D.
Having also finished third on Saturday night in the five-star Six Bars competition, Trevor Breen said: “I’m so delighted with a podium finish in the five-star Grand Prix. Germaine has been a fantastic horse for me to bring up through the levels and a great result for our Team Breen Sport Horses and Team Z7. I’m now really looking forward to my team debut on the Global Champions Tour with Rome Gladiators next week.”
Winning run
Jessica Burke was over the moon to score two five-star wins at the venue. The first came in Friday’s 1.45m two-phase with Louisa Church’s 10-year-old mare Inpulss. The speedy pair galloped to victory in 27.08 seconds to take the top prize of €6,825.
On Sunday, Burke landed the 1.55m jump-off class with Liam Nicholas’ 13-year-old home-bred gelding Express Trend (Future Trend x Condios), picking up €25,000 in prize money.
The pair were the fastest of six clears against the clock in 35.51, beating Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano and Julius D by one hundredth of a second. Trevor Breen finished sixth with Toyger when clear in 39.44 seconds.
Burke commented: “I’m delighted, I have no words, Express Trend is just brilliant. I’m just over the moon with the horses’ results out here, to be honest. Inpulss has always been knocking on the door so I was delighted she got to win her five-star and Express Trend was just brilliant.
“Also, to beat some of the fastest riders in the world was a very satisfying feeling and I can learn a lot from competing alongside them.”
Dreaming big
Shane Breen is dreaming big with his new mare Instrumental after combination landed the two-star 1.45m Grand Prix at the venue. The Tipperary man and his eight-year-old mare have caught the eye in recent weeks and gained a deserved success in the €26,200 class.
They were one of 10 combinations to jump clear in round one and, against the clock, there were only two clear with Breen winning in a time of 37.51 seconds. In second place was the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding BEC Hugo (SIEC Livello x Lux Z), bred by Brian Duff and ridden by Syria’s Osama Al Zabibi. David Simpson finished in sixth place with the nine-year-old mare Billy Olga who faulted once against the clock.
Breen recently bought the mare from Sweden’s Peder Fredricson, who only last week announced the retirement of the legendary H&M All In.
“Since we came out here it’s her first couple of shows, and only her second Grand Prix,” Breen said about the mare.
“She jumped double clear and finished fifth last week and was superb today. She’s only eight so I thought I’d go in and do my round, do the numbers between the jumps - leave out a stride on the lines. I did that and I thought she jumped fantastic – I bought her off Lisen and Peder Fredricson just before Christmas, and he was straight on the phone there to me after her win today – he’s obviously delighted.
“I was saying to Peder that maybe this is my All In horse - I’m very excited about the future with her.”
SHARING OPTIONS: