The fifth week of jumping at the XXIV Sunshine Tour concluded on Saturday, with the CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix in the main arena named after the legend David Broome.
The 1.55m course was built by Uliano Vezzani and proved a solid test for the 50 best riders of the Tour.
The jump-off was fast and hotly contested with 100,000 euros of prize money up for grabs. Trevor Breen riding Bombay (Lord Z x Bon Ami) repeated Friday’s win, this time stopping the clock in 38.84 seconds. In the post prize giving interview Trevor said: “I am very satisfied with today’s result, I have had a spectacular weekend of jumping here, winning the Big GP yesterday and now the Invitational as well. I am delighted to finish off the Sunshine Tour this way. This 11-year-old mare just keeps getting better and better.”
Breen has competed at three Sunshine Tours, and said he intends to come again. “The footing in the arenas is fantastic and I’m very happy to have jumped this weekend in the main grass arena.”
In second place and closely behind the winner, was Belgian rider Karel Cox and Dublin Van Overis (Darco x Kashmir van Schuttershof). Their time was 39.27, under a second slower than the winner. In third and fourth were British riders, Harriet Nuttall on the very consistent Galway Bay JED (Romanov x Lux) in 40.52 and Holly Smith on Hearts Destiny (breeding unknown) was a smidgeon behind her in 40.78. Reed Kessler for the USA, did a lovely round to finish in fifth with Tradition de la Roque (Kannan x Oberon du Moulin) in a time of 41.10 seconds.
Source: Press release from the Sunshine Tour // Picture © Moisés Basallote