KILDARE’S Michael Pender and the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare HHS Fortune (Catoki (HOLST) x HHS Daisy (ISH) by Ard Vdl Douglas (KWPN)), bred by Marion Hughes, once again showed the strength of their partnership, when they won the four-star 1.45m Longines Challenge at the four-star Nations Cup show at Abu Dhabi, UAE on Friday. There were 45 combinations on the start list, with 15 managing to jump a clear round within the time allowed. Pender’s time of 57.90 seconds was well ahead of his nearest rival Abdelkebir Ouaddar (MAR) on Baccarat Meniljean (59.53), who had to settle for the runner-up spot, while Germany’s David Will on Dream Star One were more than four seconds behind that (63.70) to finish third.

Nations Cup