LAST Sunday, amidst the electric atmosphere of the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising) delivered a masterclass under pressure.

Bred by Shane and Patrick Connolly, the pair secured a brilliant runner-up finish against a world-class field. On ratings, this was one of the top six strongest individual fields we have seen at five-star level over the last 15 years. It wasn’t a one-off. It was, in fact, their sixth consecutive podium finish in a five-star Grand Prix. When this pair arrive in a CSI5* 1.60m jump-off, they very rarely miss. From the 20 they have contested, Geneva was their 18th podium finish.

Competing in a five-star Grand Prix is a challenge reserved for the elite. To consistently feature in the prize-giving ceremony is the mark of a champion. James Kann Cruz’s record at this height is phenomenal. The Geneva result marks this partnership’s 20th individual podium finish at five-star 1.60m level, but it is the context surrounding these results that reveals the true power of Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz.

The jump-off metric

In the Grand Prix format, success is often determined by the jump-off. The key question is not just whether a horse can jump clear, but how often that clear round converts into a top position.

In the high-pressure environment of the jump-off, where risk is multiplied and a fraction of a second is the margin between glory and defeat, James Kann Cruz stands out statistically. From those 20 five-star jump-off appearances, 17 were completed with a clear round, which gives this partnership a whopping 85% clear rate in five-star 1.60m jump-offs. A rate that only the 2008 Olympic Champion, Hickstead, has been able to surpass (and he didn’t do it as often). But it’s James Kann Cruz’s conversion to podium finishes that makes the grey gelding such a standout performer in the modern era of show jumping. Some 18 of those 20 rounds have converted into a podium finish.

The most recent runner-up finish in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, a class in which the pair also took third in 2022, confirms a pattern of competitive consistency that few other horses in the world can match under pressure. When Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz secure their initial clear round, they are statistically among the most likely combinations in the sport to deliver a major result.

New Irish standard

The EquiRatings Elo rating is the gold standard for measuring greatness because it looks at the bigger picture: not just who won, but who they beat. It benchmarks current form against 15 years of history. By this measure, James Kann Cruz stands alone. With a peak rating of 775, he has surpassed every Irish horse that came before him. He is statistically the highest-rated Irish horse on record - an outlier of the modern era.

This high rating is not just theoretical; it is built on tangible, consistent excellence at the highest level. Looking at the five-star 1.60m circuit, the Irish-bred gelding has jumped a total of 63 rounds throughout his career. From these, 35 have been clear, giving him an overall top-level clear rate of 56%. To put that in context: since 2010, no other Irish horse with at least 50 rounds has matched that percentage. He is statistically the most reliable Irish horse of the modern era.

Flying the flag

Of course, James Kann Cruz’s contribution is not limited to individual success. He has proven himself to be a cornerstone for Team Ireland in the pressure-cooker environment of five-star team competitions and championships.

Since joining Shane Sweetnam’s string, he has represented Ireland in 11 different CSIO5* team competitions, including European Championships and Olympic Games, and has been an integral part of eight Irish podium finishes, including four spectacular wins (such as the prestigious Aachen and Dublin Nations Cups).

The metric that defines their value to the green jacket is their clear rate. From 19 rounds that Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz have jumped for Team Ireland at the highest level, 12 have been faultless. This equates to a 63% clear rate in team competition at the highest level, the best among Irish horses over the past 15 years and a key reason for their value to team selectors. When the competitive heat is at its most intense, James Kann Cruz delivers for his nation.

Patrick and Dolly Connolly with Shane Sweetnam, breeder and rider of James Kann Cruz \ Susan Finnerty

In his prime

Geneva was confirmation that James Kann Cruz is operating at the absolute peak of his powers; we didn’t see him too often in Europe this season (not forgetting his Dublin podium), but his results in America were always consistent.

Perhaps the most exciting statistic of all is his age. At 12 years old, he is only just entering the traditional prime window for a championship horse. As he turns 13 next summer, perfectly timed for the World Championships in Aachen, he stands not only as the statistical anchor of Team Ireland, but as the ultimate ambassador for the Irish Sport Horse.

This sustained brilliance is a glowing testament to breeders Shane and Patrick Connolly, proving that world-beating quality can be home-grown. With the highest Elo rating in Irish history and a clear round rate that dwarfs his predecessors, James Kann Cruz gives the Irish public every reason to watch the next chapter with collective pride and excitement.

The numbers say he is the best we have seen in recent history; the reality is that his best days may still be ahead.

Strongest five-star 1.60m jump-off clear rates since 2010

Jump-off runs at CSI5* 1.60m level

Five-star team & championship appearances