THE Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva ended in spectacular style on Sunday evening when USA’s McLain Ward snatched victory from hometown hero Martin Fuchs when last to go aboard HHS Azur, while Irish eyes were also smiling with Shane Sweetnam taking third place on the podium with CSF James Kann Cruz.

The afternoon started with an emotional farewell to Fuchs’ European champion Clooney 51 who was injured in a field accident last summer. The 2019 winner of this Grand Prix was given a rapturous send off by the packed stadium, with a spine-tingling atmosphere building up to the big main event.

Some 40 riders had qualified for the 1.65m class, with the big and technical course designed by Gérard Lachat and Louis Konickx. But with the world’s best riders taking part – including 16 of the world’s top 20 – there were always going to be clear rounds and, in the end, 13 made it through to the jump-off. And, as one by one riders bettered one another, it was one of the most exciting jump-off classes in a long time.

Battle

Rolex Grand Slam Live contender, Daniel Deusser was first to take it on with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z and he looked to be fast in 42.58 seconds, but the lead wouldn’t last too long. Frenchman Simon Delestre posted a round that was 0.12 seconds faster with Cayman Jolly Jumper which would eventually see him finish fifth.

It was then the turn of Belgium’s 24-year-old Gilles Thomas who posted a time of 40.88 seconds with Calleryama to take over the lead and eventually finish fourth.

Shane Sweetnam was next to leave the ring in the top spot aboard the brilliant nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding CSF James Kann Cruz. The grey gelding by Kannan out of CSF Telly Cruz (Cruising) was bred by Patrick Connolly in Co Galway and owned by Gizmo partners LLC. The pair were third in the Longines Grand Prix of Dublin and recently won a five-star Grand Prix in the USA.

The decision to travel across the world for Geneva paid off when a superb round in 40.48 seconds saw them take the lead, to the delight of his team and Irish manager Michael Blake who was on The Kidd And Cry. They would eventually finish third on the podium and collect just over €180,000 (180,000 CHF).

Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei entered the arena like gladiators in Roman times. “Allez!” the Swiss shouted to his formidable grey horse at the double bidets, and the whole Palexpo hall held its breath. Fuchs was bidding for a historic third victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva and looked like he might have just done that when crossing the finish line in 39.77 seconds, with just two remaining.

Israel’s Daniel Bluman had a fence down, leaving only McLain Ward and Azur HH. This great mare, “a true queen”, as the American calls her, has jumped seven Grands Prix this year and never knocked a single fence. Now aged 16, there were doubts if she would have the speed to catch Leone Jei but she proved the doubters wrong and lived up to her status as one of the best in the world, breaking the beam in 38.43 seconds to secure an emotional victory for Ward who first rode in Geneva 30 years ago.

Emotional

“This is something very special for me,” Ward said on the podium. “François Mathy, who discovered Azur HH and is her owner, was here to witness this success. He is like a father to me, and I also think of mine watching me from up there. I am very touched, Geneva is one of the tournaments I dreamed of as a child, and now I could finally prevail here. A big ‘Merci’ to the best audience in the world.”

Second-placed Fuchs was also thrilled despite missing out on a historic third victory. “It was an incredible day. Thank you to Clooney and thank you to Leone Jei. And thank you to all of you here in Geneva, you are my favourite audience, and you made this day unforgettable. Even if it wasn’t the third win, but I’m still extremely happy with this Grand Prix.”

Sweetnam was thrilled with James Kann Cruz who he feels lucky to ride. He commented: “I am incredibly lucky to have him. I got him last year as an eight-year-old, he is bred by the Connolly’s in Galway. We have had a great partnership since the start. The reason I came to the show - it is such a special show and as you see the standard is incredible, the horses are all special and the riders are at the top of the game - but I feel with this horse that I can really compete with these guys.

“In the jump-off I went as fast as I could, and I was winning coming out of the ring, which is all you can really ask. Then the guys went another step, especially McLain, it was great sport.”