SATURDAY’S five-star $500,000 1.60m Modon Grand Prix at week seven of the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International in Florida saw Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam finish on the podium in third place with the Patrick Connolly-bred gelding James Kann Cruz (ISH) (Kannan x CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising), owned by Gizmo Partners. The pair recorded one of just three double clear rounds in the 31-strong class, stopping the clock in a time of 39.91 to pocket $75,000 for their efforts. McLain Ward (USA) on High Star Hero took first place and $150,000 (39.14), followed by Mark Bluman (COL) on Landon De Nyze in second for $100,000 (39.71). Darragh Kenny and Eddy Blue finished seventh in the class to earn $20,000.
Sweetnam was clearly delighted with his talented horse and said afterwards: “He hasn’t knocked a fence in a grand prix since Dublin (last August), and that’s ridiculous. I’m blessed to have a horse that good - he really loves his job.
“I took a risk at the third-to-last tonight and, if I took another risk to the next, I think I’d be sitting to my left. The horse was fast enough to win, but the jockey wasn’t.”
Kenny on form
Wednesday’s five-star $32,000 1.45m two-phase class saw Kenny ride Colibelle Hero Z into eighth place, when among nine double clear rounds from the 34 starters. Eduardo Pereira De Menezes (BRA) won the class with H5 Kontador VDM.
Offaly man Kenny was back to five-star form in Florida, after a four-month provisional suspension was lifted by the FEI as his positive test for a prohibited substance was related to a prescribed medication for ADHD. He claimed a super win with Eddy Blue in the $116,100 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 at Wellington International last Thursday. Kenny and his mount jumped a flawless double clear round, stopping the jump-off clock in 37.9 seconds. Wexford’s Bertram Allen, who had ridden Kenny’s horses with great success in recent weeks, finished in the runner-up spot when clocking 39.12 with Qonquest De Rigo. Charlotte Jacobs and Playboy JT Z completed the podium in third (40.01), while Meath’s Cian O’Connor and Ulysses placed fourth in 40.87.
Amazing
“This is my first week back, so it’s nice to get back in the ring,” said Kenny afterwards. “Bertram Allen rode Eddy for me for a little bit and did a fantastic job on him. The horse feels ready to go, and he was amazing today as he always is.
“I knew Bertram’s horse has a massive stride; he did seven from one to two. I wasn’t sure if I could do that, but it showed up for me. I think my horse is more experienced than his in jump-offs, so that’s probably where it got him.
“I’m very lucky to have such a fantastic group of owners and staff who kept the horses in great shape,” Kenny said of his time on the sidelines. “I was very lucky Bertram was able to ride them for me - I’m very thankful to everybody who was involved in that.”
Max Wachman and The Kerryman finished eighth in the two-star $6,000 1.45m speed class on Thursday, jumping clear in 74.25. First place went to Paris Sellon (USA) on Calida Z in a time of 64.99.
Friday’s two-star $32,000 1.45m jump-off class saw Andrew Bourns in fourth place on board Perte Totale De Res Nova, when double clear in 37.48, with Karl Cook finishing top of the podium on Caracole De La Roque in 34.9.
Kenny wasn’t done yet and the five-star $62,500 1.50m class on Sunday saw him take second place with Colibelle Hero Z and fourth with Cosmos BH. Sweetnam placed fifth with Pia Maria H, followed by Jordan Coyle on For Gold in eighth and Tom Wachman on Genghis Khan in 10th.
There was a podium placing for Stephen Moore and Conny Blue BH in Sunday’s two-star $62,500 1.45m Grand Prix, after they jumped double clear in 38.38. The winning jump-off time of 37.17 came from Marilyn Little (USA) riding Narado.