THE Irish duo of Shane Breen and Michael Duffy combined to jump two spectacular clear rounds on Saturday afternoon and secure victory in the third leg of the Global Champions League for the Miami Celtics on home turf at Miami Beach.
They did so in front of team owner Monica McCourt of Rushy Marsh Farm, who is the wife of the GCT co-owner Frank McCourt.
“I am so proud of these boys. They are spectacular under pressure. To win in Miami, which is our hometown, means so much. I will never forget today,” McCourt said afterwards.
Duffy and Breen finished Friday’s round with six faults. Breen rode Breen Equestrian, Jos Lansink Horses and Konstantin Pysarenko Ipswich van de Wolfsakker to a fantastic round, just picking up a single time fault, while Duffy guided Helena Stormann’s 10-year-old Quintero-sired gelding Quintano 35 to a five-fault round, leaving the team on a total of six and in fourth place overnight.
Despite teammates William Whitaker and Jessica Springsteen being in attendance (Cameron Hanley and Harry Charles are also on the team), the Celtics stuck with the same combination. Breen was again pathfinder and stormed around Uliano Vezzani’s track without touching a pole.
Duffy was next and despite Quintano 35’s unorthodox way of going, the 24-year-old kept it together to jump a classy clear round, to the delight of the Miami crowd.
PRESSURE
That piled the pressure on the teams to follow. The St Tropez Pirates, leaders coming into the second round, could not hold on to the top spot despite a clear from Pieter Devos on the talented 11-year-old Clearway mare, Claire Z.
His team mate Athina Onassis and the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse MHS Going Global (Quidam Junior x Cavalier Royale) knocked out the middle element of the triple combination and victory was handed to Miami and with St Tropez in second, just one penalty adrift.
The Berlin Eagles filled the third step on the podium with eight faults, flying up from fifth coming into the second round thanks to two clears from their unchanged team of Malin Baryard-Johnsson (H&M Indiana) and Emil Hallundbaek (Chalisco).
“A win is a win; any way it’s great, but to do it at home – especially in front of Monica [McCourt, the team owner] – is nice,” said Duffy.
“I love this, it’s great to be in this position to be able to showcase yourself.”
Breen added: “It was sensational, Michael rode fantastic and both our horses jumped superb. We have a fantastic owner [Monica McCourt], and trainer in Helena Stormanns. It’s a dream come true to win on home ground. We have good points on the board and we will crack on from here.”
After Mimai, the league table sees the Shanghai Swans, occupying top spot, thanks to wins both in Doha and Mexico. The St Tropez Pirates are breathing down their neck in second, while the Miami Celtics have flown up to sit third after their home win.
But with 17 of the 19 events of the regular season before the GCL Super Cup at the GC Prague Playoffs, it’s all still to play for.
DEVOS LANDS GCT GRAND PRIX
Belgium’s Pieter Devos jumped to the top of the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix leaderboard when winning the third round in Miami and booking his place in the 2019 GCT Super Grand Prix. Devos has been in exceptional form of late and was the fastest of three double clears in the eight horse jump-off aboard Claire Z to win a whopping €99,000.
Devos’ time of 37.38 seconds was just fractions faster than Dutchman Harrie Smolders who took the runner-up place aboard Don VHP Z N.O.P in 37.42. Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson took the final place on the podium when she guided H&M Indiana to the final clear round in 38.48 seconds.
Shane Sweetnam posted the fastest four fault score in the first round to finish ninth with the 10-year-old gelding Alejandro, owned by Seabrook LLC, Spy Coast Farm LLC, and Sweet Oak Farm.
“It was great sport today and I am so happy with how my mare jumped; she’s jumped everything clear this week,” Devos said. “She’s only 11 and she has a lot of energy; there’s more to come now that I am able to understand her and keep her quiet until the end of the course. I’m really looking forward to the future with her.”
Bertram Allen was also in action at the Florida venue and placed third in the opening class, Friday’s 1.45m jump-off, with Ballywalter Farms’ Izzy by Picobello (0/0 36.16) to earn €14,025. He was just ahead of Denis Lynch aboard Allen’s former mount Hector van d’Abdijhoeve in fourth (0/0 36.50). Victory went to Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts with Cataleya 3 (0/0 34.86).