CORK’S Shane Sweetnam added another five-star Grand Prix podium finish to his list at Lexington, Kentucky over the weekend. The focal point of Sunday’s show jumping at Lexington was the 1.60m MLSJ Grand Prix, which had 42 on the start list. Seven combinations jumped clear in round one to book their place in the jump-off, where five of them completed double clear rounds - all but one of those five were American.

The one who wasn’t American was Irish man Sweetnam, who rode his fantastic equine partner, the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding James Kann Cruz (Kannan x CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising), bred by Patrick Connolly, into third place in a jump-off time of 40.71, less than a second behind the winner. There was an American one-two for Kent Farrington on Descartes SR in first (39.92) and McLain Ward on High Star Hero in second (40.42).

Following his win, Farrington said: “I’m really excited about this horse. He’s just nine and this is his first five-star, and we started it the right way. He has an incredible stride like a racehorse and I know he can eat up the ground.”

Remarkably, Farrington was first to go in the jump-off, but set a time that couldn’t be caught.

“I think he’s a very special horse - he’s been an exceptional talent since I started with him last year,” he said of his mount, whom he has only ridden for a relatively short time. “He was bred in Mexico, and I think he’s an unbelievable horse. He has so much power for a small horse and an incredible stride that really covers the ground, but he still has the lofty jump to clear the fence.”

This was Ward’s first competition since a fall in Wellington left him out of action. “I was thrilled with Hero, he jumped brilliant,” Ward said. “I’ve been out about seven weeks, and this is my first show back, mildly against doctors’ orders. But he’s a good friend, and he did his job.

“For sure I’m disappointed to lose, but to lose to who I consider best in the world right now, there’s some salvation in that,” he said of his runner-up finish.

Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz have been on the Kentucky podium before. “He’s a great horse and his results speak for himself,” Sweetnam said of the grey gelding. “He’s been on a good run this year, he’s doing everything the right way and I’m just lucky to have him. He’s a brilliant jumper, and when you ask, ‘how do I keep the consistency?’ He does it. He wants to clear the jumps; he’s the key reason we’re consistent and I just try to do the right thing by him.”

Kent Farrington, McLain Ward and Shane Sweetnam pictured on the podium after the five-star $340,000 1.60m Grand Prix, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, at the MLSJ fixture at Lexington, Kentucky \ MLSJ

Placings

Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) moved to Kentucky International at Lexington over the weekend and saw some exciting five-star action.

In Friday’s 46-strong five-star MLSJ qualifier class, Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz were among 14 combinations who jumped clear in the first round, but the Irish pair were also among six who opted not to jump again and they settled for equal ninth place. The class was won by Mark Bluman (COL) on Landon De Nyze, who jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 38.38.

In the five-star MLSJ Individual Speed class, 42 starters went to post, with 19 jumping clear within the allocated time. Sweetnam rode Pegina VD Bisschop into fourth place when clear in a time of 67.66, behind Brazilian winner Eduardo Pereira De Menezes on H5 Kontador VDM, whose time of 65.68 proved unbeatable. Nina Mallevaey (FRA) placed eighth with the Irish Sport Horse mare My Clementine, bred by the late David Prentice, with a time of 70.83.

Charlotte Jacobs and Rincoola Milsean (ISH) were on the winning Trelawny Trailblazers team in the MLSJ team competition at Lexington, Kentucky \ MLSJ

The team competition was held on Saturday, with eight teams taking on a demanding course. There were no Irish riders on the podium on this occasion, but two Irish-bred horses were among the top three teams. The Trelawny Trailblazers team of Lillie Keenan, Abdel Said and Charlotte Jacobs won the class, with Jacobs riding the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Rincoola Milsean, bred by the late Harold McGahern. Maccabi United (Mark Bluman, Thaisa Erwin and Daniel Bluman) were runners-up, while Northern Lights (Kyle Timm, Nina Mallavaey and Nicole Walker) were third. Mallavaey was again riding My Clementine. Ireland’s Michael Duffy and Mister Qerly Z were on the sixth-placed Helios team.

Later in the day, 24 combinations made up the start list for the five-star MLSJ two-phase class. Duffy rode Mr Cornike into sixth place, when jumping double clear in a second phase time of 36.15. Richard Vogel (GER) won the class with Con Quality in a time of 31.93, ahead of Elisa Broz (USA) on Knass B in second (32.94) and Ben Maher (GBR) on Ginger-Blue in third (33.79).