TWENTY-nine year-old Irish rider Shane Sweetnam took second place in this afternoon's (Saturday) Grand Prix Qualifier at Pforzheim's three-star show in Germany.

The Cork-born rider, who is normally based in Florida, piloted the Spy Coast Farm-owned stallion 'Amaretto d'Arco' through to the 16 horse jump-off and was one of just five combinations to go clear again second time out.

However, a turn of speed by German rider Hans-Thorben Ruber left Sweetnam trailing in his wake by almost two seconds, and the Corkman had to settle for the runner-up spot and its 4,300 euro prize purse.
 

Shane Sweetnam