THERE was an Irish one-two in the opening class at the 48th American Gold Cup at Old Salem Farm last Wednesday.
Shane Sweetnam guided Cyklon 1083 to win the four-star $10,000 1.45m class ahead of Willie Tynan and Fancy Girl. USA’s WEG gold medallist Adrienne Sternlicht finished in third place with her new mount, Fantast.
Alan Wade didn’t have much time to relax after his course building duties at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, and was back in Old Salem for the famous show last week.
Just 16 lined out in the opening FEI class and Tynan set the pace to beat and topped the leaderboard through much of the class with Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach’s Fancy Girl, posting a clear round in a quick time of 63.46 seconds to beat previous leaders, Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Baloppi.
It appeared the impressive time from Tynan and the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare would stand as his subsequent competitors were unable to catch his pace fault-free.
Sternlicht challenged Tynan’s time, finishing hot on his heels with a clear round in 63.82 seconds aboard Fantast, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Sagamore Farms, and that was eventually good enough for third.
However, Sweetnam was second last into the arena and he guided his long-time partner and consistent winner Cyklon 1083 to a blazing time of 61.29 seconds to land victory and $3,300. The 17-year-old stallion, owned by Spy Coast Farm, LLC, holds an impressive record of countless wins in his seven years with Sweetnam.
Speaking after the win, Sweetnam said: “He’s 17 years young and with the classes that we do, we try to make them count. He’s a little strong but that’s why he is so fast because he likes to go forward.
“He’s super careful and he has the biggest heart in the world. Already in the past year he has had great results in the Hamptons, won a class in Aachen and placed in both classes in Dublin. He’s just so consistent so I can always trust him and stick to my plan.”
Mayo’s Cormac Hanley also posted a good time of 63.46 seconds with Heathman Farms’ Copain Z, but four faults dropped him to sixth place overall.
Hanley was back in the placings and collected $3,500 when finishing fourth in Thursday’s 1.45m aboard VDL Cartello with a clear in 56.86 seconds. Victory is that class when to USA’s Kristen Vanderveen with Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili.
O’SHEA RUNNER-UP
Paul O’Shea travelled straight from the WEG to New York to ride the rest of his competition string and he placed second in Friday’s $80,000 1.55m American Gold Cup Qualifier with Imerald van’t Voorhof.
Just eight of the 44 starters jumped clear inside the time to progress to the jump-off in the feature class and when third to go, WEG gold medallist McLain Ward posted the winning time in 37.82 seconds aboard Contagious. Ward acquired the ride on Contagious just this summer, and the American Gold Cup is only the pair’s third show together.
O’Shea gave it a good try but had to settle for the runner-up honours (38.10) and $16,000 with the Tequestrian Farms LLC-owned 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Emerald van’t Ruytershof.
Lorcan Gallagher was one of six riders to clear all the fences but pick up a time penalty, and he finished in ninth place with Hunters Conlypso II.
Captain Brian Cournane also picked up a second place finish, this time in Saturday’s $70,000 Fidelity Investments Classic, which was also won by McLain Ward.
Riding the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Penelope Cruz, who was bred by Liam McKee by the stallion Ustinov, Cournane broke the beam in a time of 37.05 seconds to collect $14,000. Ward won with Reed Kessler’s Tradition De La Roque (35.84).
Kessler, the youngest ever Olympian in London 2012, has decided to take a break from riding to concentrate on college and is selling the majority of her horses.
Richie Moloney placed sixth with a double clear in 45.98 seconds with Freestyle de Muze.
Sunday’s American Gold Cup, in the form of the Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier, was won by USA’s Molly Ashe Cawley and D’Arnita. Shane Sweetnam was among the seven combinations to make it through to the jump-off, and the only non USA rider, but a fence down with Main Road saw him finish in seventh. Margie Goldstein-Engle took the runner-up spot aboard Royce.
ROTHCHILD RETIRED
In the lead-up to Sunday’s main event, McLain Ward’s beloved and legendary partner, Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farms, was retired in a special ceremony honouring his incredible career with Ward, including winning individual gold and team bronze for Team USA at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.
“I refuse to get on him in there. I know I will fall off if I do,” McLain said beforehand. “He looks amazing. He is happier and healthier than ever. It’s nice to be able to retire him in such a good state. Obviously he had a brilliant career and he really was my buddy.
“That horse really defied the odds and did some incredible things and is probably pound-for-pound the best horse I have ever ridden because of the things he overcame.”