Huge win for Mikey Pender and Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais in €300,000 LGCT Grand Prix of Riyadh

Kildare’s Mikey Pender and The Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais have claimed a massive victory in today’s (Saturday) five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, taking the top prize of €300,000.

Pender (23) claimed the first Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of his career back in August at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands, and this latest win in Riyadh makes Pender the youngest ever winner of two LGCT Grand Prix competitions.

One of just four combinations to make it into the jump-off, Pender and HHS Calais, who was bred by the late Ita Brennan in Kilkenny, stopped the clock clear in 35.78 seconds to take the huge winners purse. Dutch rider Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. finished as runners-up in 36.68, while third spot on the podium went to another Dutchman, Jur Vrieling with Long John Silver 3.

Two Irish riders on Irish horses would finish in the top six with Wexford’s Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro (ISH) taking sixth place overall.

BREEDING
HHS Calais (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) out of MHS OBOS Cruise (ISH) by OBOS Quality (OLD). Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).
Pacino Amiro (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) by NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Aiden McGrory. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL).