Kildare’s Mikey Pender rode to victory in the SJI Premier Series in the National Balmoral Championships today and took home the winner’s share of the £25,000 on offer. Riding HHS Catwalk he lodged the winning round of clear in 45.04 seconds.
The SJI Premier Series is foremost on riders minds, not only the lucrative prize money at each round, but also because of the places up for grabs for the two top finishers in the league to the International Classes at Dublin Horse Show.
Owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd and bred by Thomas A Hughes, the chestnut mare is an 11-year- by Cit Cat and is out of the Clover Echo sired dam, HHS Clo Jo. This combination has been competing on the International circuit for the best part of the year, starting their season in Vilamoura CSI3* and they on to Vejer de la Frontera CSI4*. They traveled to Miami Beach CSI5* and then to Mexico CSI5*. They then returned to Europe, taking in Cannes CSI5*, Sopot CSIO5*, where they recorded a win in the 1.50m.
Winners of the first round of the series in Barnadown in May, Kevin Gallagher and DHF Lift Off added valuable points to their leaderboard standings when they claimed the runner-up place. Owned by GBBS Int LTD and bred by Stephen Keane, DHF Lift Off is a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Harlequin Du Carel and out of the Mr Clover sired dam, Missy K. This combination has got plenty of practice at this level as they spent the start of the year competing in Spain at Vejer de la Frontera CSI4*.
Mikey Pender took another share of the prize fund when he took third place with Marion Hughes’ Chacco Bay, when clear in 47.20. This ten-year-old stallion is by Chaccato and out of the Heops sired dam, Hella. This combination recently claimed second place in Mullingar CSI2* 1.40m. The stallion was previously campaigned by Khaled Abdulaziz AL EID from the UAE.
Fourth place belonged to Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lui, when they kept the poles in place in a time of 47.78. Young rider Max Wachman followed closely behind aboard Donegal, delivering a clear in a time of 47.89 for fifth. This ten-year-old French bred gelding is by Vigo Cece and is out of Fleur De Lisle. The combination have recently returned from Hagen CSIOY NC-Y were they finished fifth in the 1.45m Grand Prix.
Completing the top six was Niamh Mc Evoy and Jargon Dn, when she came home with nothing to add in 48.72. Owned by David Hedley and bred by D Noordhuis, the nine-year-old gelding is by Zirroco Blue Vdl and is out of Fair Lady. This combination recently took fifth in the GAIN Alltech Grand Prix in Flavours of Fingal. Prior to this the gelding was produced by Jamie Landers.