Pender keeps it in the family

Ireland's Mikey Pender begins a remarkable grand prix winning double and it all comes together in the ring for a "special character"

- SARAH RADFORD

Chard Equestrian CSI2*, Somerset

IN the first of a remarkable run of grands prix successes (see also report p70), Mikey Pender and scopey mare HHS Cornetta devoured the track for the CSI2* 1.45m big tour finale, neatly sewing up the class from first draw by setting an invincible standard.

Ben Townley's course produced nine clears but the jump-off quickly became a done deal, with the first two combinations retaining the top two places.

Mikey's lead on the big and powerful Cornet Obolensky x Acorado grey was almost matched by next in William Whitaker and 11-year-old Chacco's Lando, but he was half a second wide of the mark.

"Cornetta has a massive stride, no one else got from fence two to three on eight strides," said Mikey, who was in the UK targeting this show and Chepstow, having recently returned Global Champions Tour (GCT) appearances in both Miami and Mexico.

The nine-year-old mare won a 1.50m rankings class in Vejer de la Frontera last month and it's hoped she'll be ready to join the more experienced horses at some GCT dates later this year.

"She's very rideable and very smart and always wants to please she's a big help in a jump-off as she always wants to lock on to the jumps," Mikey said. "I think she's incredibly talented and we hope she'll be ready for some big grands prix in a few months." The €9,421 (£8,095) first prize was the second big win of the week for the 24-year-old Irishman, who also landed €1,544 (£1,330) for his victory in Saturday's medium tour with Cornetta's full brother HHS Cyprus.