The third edition of the annual CSI4* Al Shira'aa International Horse Show kicked off on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. More and more top riders from Europe are choosing to start their season under the Abu Dhabi sun, where the equestrian sport is growing with high speed. Just like last year, it was Shane Breen (IRL) on the now 13-year-old stallion Can Ya Makan (Canturo x Fara) who took the win in the opening day's biggest class – the 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier presented by Meadow Court Stud.

A total of 12 horse-and-rider combinations out of the 47 that started, cleared their way into the deciding jump-off. Another rider that was very successful at Al Shira'aa International Horse Show last year, Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann, set the standard early on. Riding the 9-year-old gelding Que Bueno de Hus Z (Que Guapo x Canto), he took the lead with a time of 38.77 seconds. Breen followed shortly after, shaving over a second on Von Eckermann's time, when he crossed the finish line in 37.11 seconds. Germany's Philipp Weishaupt on the 11-year-old gelding Belo Horizonte (Baloubet du Rouet x Clearway), got closest to Breen, slotting into runner-up position with the time of 38.05 seconds, pushing Von Eckermann down to third. Vladimir Tuganov (RUS) on the 11-year-old gelding Qualidam (Quality Touch Z x Quidam de Revel), took the fourth place and Paolo Paini (ITA) on the 9-year-old mare Chaccolie (Chacco Blue x Cellestial) placed fifth. 

"It was great that Henrik went first, because obviously he is always so competitive," Breen commented afterwards. "I tried to do the same as he did, but I went one stride less to the last. I am delighted for Team Z Seven and everyone concerned, it is nice to come back here and win the same class again. It is an honour to be here, it is a fantastic venue," Breen said about the event. "I had great success here last year and have now kicked off things in a good way, hopefully it continues." 

Earlier during the day Mohammed Al Hajri (UAE) on the 11-year-old mare Doklahoma VDL (Baloubet du Rouet x Emilion) won the 1.40m YAS TV Speed Stakes. Emilio Bicocchi (ITA) on the 9-year-old mare Faliane W (Gelha's VDL Emilion x Indorado) placed second and Ahmed M.N. Mansour (JOR) on the 10-year-old mare Estoril de Vardag (Vaillant) took the third place. Ibrahim Hani Bisharat (UAE) on the 10-year-old gelding Etos HBC (Cantos x Kroongraaf) placed fourth and the fifth place went to Trevor Breen (IRL) on the 9-year-old stallion Franklin (Eurocommerce Washington x Lux). 

The best groom of the day award went to UAE rider Bin Khadim's groom Shahhbaz Dilshad.