U25 rider Michael Pender is a world-class talent...
Michael Pender & HHS Calais are yet again unbeatable taking their second LGCT Grand Prix win of the season!
Mikey Pender of Kildare and The Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais won the five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, taking the top prize of €300,000 and their second LGCT Grand Prix win of the season!
Pender, who is 23 years old, won the first Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of his career in August at Valkenswaard in the Netherlands. With his most recent victory in Riyadh, Pender has become the youngest rider in history to win two LGCT Grand Prix competitions.
The young talent smiled: "I can't quite believe it, it's incredible to win one of the biggest Grand Prix of the year and to do it in front of this crowd in Riyadh is brilliant. It's defiantly made me emotional, the horse gave everything today what an amazing experience. I can't thank everyone enough who made it possible, the whole team at home, behind the scenes and the people here putting on these life-changing shows for us."
As Pender was already quailfied for the LGCT Super Grand Prix he hands the final golden ticket down to former world number one Harrie Smolders after his stella double clear on Monaco round the biggest track this season.
Wexford's Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro (ISH) came in sixth, making them one of two Irish riders on Irish horses to place in the top six.
