IT was an all-Irish podium in Thursday’s three-star $32,000 1.45m Welcome class at the Desert Circuit 9 fixture at Desert International Horse Park at Thermal, California, when Co Laois man James Chawke was best of the 45 starters with Daido Van’T Ruytershof Z. Chawke and his 12-year-old mare jumped an impressive double clear in a jump-off time of 36.05, which proved unbeatable, despite being first into the ring. That was less than a second ahead of Co Down’s Conor Swail on the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion Clonterm Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky x She Has The Lux by Lux Z), bred by Brian Duff in Ashbourne, Co Meath, in second (36.94), with Swail’s other mount Theo 160 just over half a second behind that to claim third (37.53).
Following their success, Chawke said of his mount: “I thought she was really good. She’s always so fast, so you can kind of stick to your plan and do it well. She’s always going to be there or thereabouts.
“I thought I was quite good the first half [of the jump-off], and then I thought I was a little bit slow to the second-to-last and to the last. So, I was a bit wondering if someone would catch me there, but thankfully, it was enough for today.
“I actually tried some different back boots on her today, so it was a bit of a trial day with her. I’ve been a bit unlucky in a few classes; we’ve had a jump down behind. Yesterday, she had the fastest time in the speed class [with one rail down], so I just decided to change them, and she was really good.”
https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/2020/ThermalSwailClontermMar26.jpg.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Dconor%2520swail
Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky finished in second place in the three-star $32,000 1.45m Welcome class at Desert International Horse Park at Thermal, California \ High Desert Sport Photo
Good start
Swail had got off to a good start in the three-star $32,000 1.45m Welcome speed class on Wednesday, when he took two top-10 placings. Swail rode Theo 160 into second place in a time of 62.41 and also placed ninth with Clonterm Obolensky in 69.75. Canada’s Ali Ramsey and Bonita VH Keizershof Z won the class in 61.85.
Wednesday’s $10,000 1.35m Welcome speed class saw James Chawke steer Billion Dollar Billy into second place behind Mariano Alario (ARG) on Cassamoon. There were 47 starters in the class, with 23 of them leaving the fences intact.
The day’s 24-strong three-star $1,000 1.40m two-phase special class saw Mark Kinsella place eighth on board Casira, while Swail finished 10th with Casturano. The class was won by Tali Dejong (USA) on Boeff Van De Molen Z.
Friday saw Conor Swail take a podium placing in the $25,000 1.40m Open Classic, when placing third with Kazelli VDL. From a start list of 62, just 12 jumped clear within the time in round one, with the best 10 jumping a second time. Six combinations completed the two rounds without fault, with Amanda Gomez (USA) taking the win on board Charly-Ann (37.55), ahead of Zoe Brown (NZL) on Bling VD Duvelshoeve Z in second (38.24), marginally faster than Swail’s time of 38.34.
Chawke was on form in Friday’s $10,000 DIHP 10 and Under 1.35m Futurity Series, when he claimed three of the top four places in the class of 26. Chawke placed second with Billion Dollar Billy, third with Interactive Mortgage Cody and fourth with Nandos S. The win went to Bryna Closson (USA) on Meteoric Rise.
On Sunday, Chawke rode Nandos S to win the 38-strong $15,000 1.35m Open Classic to conclude another successful show.