Co Down’s Conor Swail came out on top in Friday night’s 1m50 Pepsi Challenge at Spruce Meadows five-star show in Canada with the Vanessa Mannix-owned GK Coco Chanel.

Six of the 25 starters jumped clear in the first round and at the finish, Swail and the 10-year-old gelding were comfortable winners, finishing 1.3 seconds ahead of both John Perez (COL) and Patricio Pasquel (MEX) who finished on the same time to share second place.

“He (GK Coco Chanel) likes coming here (Spruce Meadows) and every time he comes he grows up a little bit. I just had to be patient and the win would come,” commented Swail on his horse’s consistent results throughout the 2018 Spruce Meadows Summer Series.

In the earlier ATCO Connect 1m45, the Irish Sport Horse Lux Lady took the winner's prize when ridden by America’s Rich Fellers.

BREEDING

Lux Lady (ISH) – 2005 mare by Lux Z (HANN) out of Shania (ISH), by Master Imp (TB). Bred by Joe O’Flaherty, Co. Longford. Owner Harrie & Molly Chapman. Rider: Rich Fellers (USA)