SHANE Breen started off the new year and his stint in the Middle East on a high note when winning the four-star Longines FEI World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi last Saturday.

Breen rode his Dublin Grand Prix-winning gelding Ipswich van de Wolfsakker, who is owned by the rider alongside Breen Equestrian, Jos Lansink and Konstantinkonstantin Pysarenko, to score the first World Cup qualifier of 2020. Breen, who rides for Team Z7, will spend a number of weeks competing in the UAE to kickstart the year.