Ireland's Richard Howley and the 9-year-old Zodiak du Buisson Z (Zirocco Blue x Dutch Capitol) won Sunday's CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix in Coapexpan, Mexico. 

Crossing the finish line in 40.74 in a jump-off between five horse-and-rider-combinations, the Irish pair topped a starting field of 29 and took the win ahead of Germany's former world number one Daniel Deusser and Gangster v/h Noddevelt (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Careful) in second in 41.50 and Switzerland's Janika Sprunger aboard Orelie (Emerald x Nabab de Reve) in third in 44.86. 

"We are over the moon as a team," Howley commented to World of Showjumping. "He is such a fantastic horse. At only nine, to win a five-star Grand Prix is an amazing result for our whole stable at HK and everyone involved. There is a lovely story behind the horse: My wife bought him at the Limburg auction as a foal and she rode him herself competitively up until national Grand Prix level. When she fell pregnant with our son, I was lucky enough to get the ride halfway through last year and the horse has developed to an absolute superstar. I believe the future is very bright." 

The hosts nearly got a home win though, with Federico Fernandez and Romeo (Lando x Cheers Cassini) clocking the fastest time, 40.28. However, a fence down left the Mexican duo to forth, followed by Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) and H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z (Picasso Z x Ogano Sitte) in fifth.