Ireland's Michael Pender and HHS Catwalk (Cit Cat x Clover Echo) opened CSIO5* Sopot Horse Show 2023 in Poland with a win in Thursday's 1.50m Prize of Porsche Centrum Sopot under patronage of Trójmiasto.pl. 

With a time of 65.05, Pender took the top honours in the 1.50m against the clock ahead of Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano and Crack Balou (Balou du Reventon x Chacco-Blue) in second in 67.31. The hosts showed great form with Adam Grzegorzewski (POL) and Stakata (Stanley x Embassy I) placing third in 68.09 ahead of Mikolaj Baranski (POL) and Qatar Donaldson Z (Quidam de Revel x Diamant de Semilly) in fourth in 68.21 and the current world number five Switzerland's Martin Fuchs in fifth in 68.33 aboard Viper Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Grannus).