MAYO’s Cameron Hanley was in superb form at last week’s five-star show at Stuttgart in Germany, scoring a win in Saturday evening’s feature class.

The 1.50m two round contest carried valuable Longines world ranking points and attracted a star-studded field that included Marcus Ehning, Kevin Staut, Christian Ahlmann and Daniel Deusser.

Hanley was one of 11 riders who managed to jump clear in the opening round aboard the 12-year-old gelding Antello Z, however a slow time in the opening round saw him having to go first against the clock.

With so many top riders following him in the jump-off, Hanley knew he would need to produce something special in order to win – and he did just that.

PACE

The pair set off at a blistering pace and some incredibly smooth turns saw them cross the line clear in 34.40 seconds. Of the 10 combinations who followed, eight managed to keep the poles intact but none could match the Irishman’s effort, Germany’s Daniel Deusser came closest with First Class Van Eeckelghem but he still finished almost a second behind Hanley and Antello Z, who is by Animo II out of a dam by Continue.

Speaking this week to The Irish Field, Hanley said: “It took me a few shows to get Antello adapted to indoors but he really jumped great in Stuttgart and when he’s like that he’s hard to beat.”

German’s Christian Ahlman finished third with the grey stallion Cornado II while Frenchman Patrice Delaveau and Leontine Ledimar Z HDC came home in fourth, just ahead of Ehning and Plot Blue in fifth.

Hanley was also thrilled with how his eight-year-old gelding Cas 2 performed in Stuttgart as he explained: “My third horse, Cas, was clear every day in the 1.45m classes and I think he is a real star in the making. Getting him the mileage at this level is invaluable.”

Cas 2, who is by Indoctro out of a Numero Uno dam, finished 10th in the first 1.45m class of the week last Thursday, with fellow Irish rider Denis Lynch taking sixth place aboard Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof.

Lynch was back in the prizes in last Friday’s 1.40m speed and handiness fancy dress contest, taking ninth place with Blue Silver, a 10-year-old gelding by Balou Du Rouet.

Hanley and Cas 2 scored their best result of the week when finishing fourth in last Saturday night’s 1.45m class, which was won by Brazilian Pedro Diniz riding Anaya Ste Hermelle, while Britain’s John Whitaker and Argento slotted into second.

Meanwhile, Dermott Lennon and Lynch will compete in Madrid five-star CSIW show this weekend.