SUNDAY’S $340,000 American Gold Cup class, the focal point of the show at Traverse City, Michigan, was a competitive affair, with just six of the 23 starters jumping clear to secure a place in the jump-off. One of these combinations retired second time out, while the other five all completed double clear rounds, with two Irish men finishing on the podium.

Best of these was Shane Sweetnam and the talented Irish Sport Horse CSF James Kann Cruz (Kannan x CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising), bred by Patrick Connolly, who stopped the jump-off clock in 35.97 seconds, which was good enough for second place, while Daniel Coyle and Farrel clocked 36.49 for third. The two Irish combinations were only beaten by Kent Farrington (USA) who rode Greya round the jump-off track in the winning time of 34.75.

Faster horse

Sweetnam said afterwards: “James Kann Cruz was great, Greya is just a faster horse. Even going in, I knew it would be a long shot. I watched Greya’s round and knew that it probably wouldn’t be caught but I’ve already had about six or seven second-place finishes this year, so I was going to give it a go no matter what. I didn’t feel I left much out there.”

The American Gold Cup fixture was held at Traverse City. Thursday saw Sweetnam take sixth place in the two-star $7,000 1.40m two-phase class on board Riesling van de Gaathoeve.

Coyle was runner-up in the five-star $32,000 1.45m speed classic on board Incredible. As it turned out, the top three were incredibly close, with Coyle and his mount jumping clear in a time of 64.18, which was only bettered by Hunter Holloway (USA) on Pepita Con Spita, who finished very slightly ahead in 64.16. Third-placed Charlotte Jacobs (USA) on Thomascourt Ballypatrick stopped the clock in 64.21 – meaning the top three were within 0.05 seconds of each other!

Friday saw Coyle and Calippo 57 placing fourth in the two-star $32,000 1.45m speed class, when clear in 56.84. The win went to Savannah Jenkins (USA) on Comme Ci Comme Ca in 55.65.

Friday’s highlight was the $117,000 Grand Prix qualifier, which saw two Irish men on the podium. Sweetnam rode CSF James Kann Cruz to claim victory and the $38,610 top prize in the 25-strong class when double clear over the Alan Wade-designed track in a jump-off time of 33.71 seconds. Fellow Irish man Conor Swail took third on board the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Clonterm Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky (BEW) x She Has The Lux (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN)), bred by Brian Duff, with a double clear in 38.39. The pair were separated by Erynn Ballard (CAN) on Dior who stopped the clock in 34.62.

Coyle and Incredible secured another runner-up position in Saturday’s $62,500 1.45m Winning Round class, when a double clear in 38.19 was just off the pace of winner McLain Ward (USA) on Princess Dalou H (37.82). Third place went to Canada’s Ballard and Let’s Fly, while Coyle also placed eighth in the class with Daydream

Sweetnam certainly had a good show and concluded with another podium finish in the two-star $32,000 Grand Prix, when steering Rural Juror SCF into third place with a double clear round in 38.07. Israel’s Daniel Bluman won the class on board Rebelline De Kwakenbeek (35.27), with Ballard (CAN) in second on Ashley De Talm (35.37).

O’Shea wins in Old Salem

Meanwhile, at the two-star fixture at Old Salem Farm, there were some great results for Irish riders, including a win for Paul O’Shea and Hellcat in the $25,000 1.45m Welcome Stake class on Friday and one for Philip McGuane on Linguini De La Pomme in the $25,000 1.40m speed class on Saturday, with David O’Brien finishing second on Coleccini.

McGuane was certainly on top form, as he also won the $40,000 1.45m Grand Prix on Sunday, this time riding My Lady Van De Krekel.