CONOR Swail and Count Me In made the perfect start to 2023 when winning last Saturday’s four-star $216,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix during week four of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA.

It was the pair’s first week competing since the London International Horse Show in December, after which the 16-year-old gelding spent some time having a well-earned break in the fields at Mannon Farm, Ireland.

Forty-three combinations started over Anderson Lima’s track on the big grass field, and just five progressed to the jump-off with a clear round. The first to crack the code on the opening round track, Swail was the trailblazer, again against the clock. He put the pressure on the four remaining competitors when posting a scorching time of 38.53 seconds, which was eventually six seconds faster than the runner-up.

“I’m lucky to have Crosby [Count Me In],” said Swail, currently ranked fifth in the world on the FEI rankings. “He’s a very fast horse. I was trying to give it a good go and put the other riders under enough pressure and hope that they would make mistakes.

“It was a tough track but fair, I thought. I have an amazing horse and I hope his good form continues. This was our first time out this year and I must say I thought he felt fabulous.”

USA’s Olympic team gold medallist Laura Kraut chased Swail down on Confu but came up short to finish second in 44.85 seconds with the only other double clear round for the St Bride’s Farm. Third went to Israel’s Ashlee Bond with the fastest four-fault performance riding Garfield for owner Stal Horn and Aurora Farms. Derry’s Daniel Coyle slotted into fifth place with Ariel Grange’s Oak Grove’s Carlyle; the pair faulted twice in the jump-off round.

When Swail returned for the prizegiving ceremony, Count Me In entered the ring with an obvious show of confidence. “He does have a bit of nervous energy when we’re competing because he has so much quality, but he’s such a relaxed guy when he comes back in again,” said Swail. “He is the horse of a lifetime for me and he’s changing my career, so hopefully we’ll get another few years together.”

Swail returned to Florida to compete after spending time on the West Coast of the USA and is looking forward to the competition. “If you’re winning here, you can win anywhere in the world,” he said. “It’s nice to come and compete against the best and – like today – it’s very rewarding.”

Wachman double

Seventeen-year-old Tom Wachman scored a brace of wins in the two-star division aboard Coolmore Showjumping’s 10-year-old mare I’m Here. The pair first won Wednesday’s 1.40m two-phase when fastest of 19 double clear rounds in a time of 29.95 seconds.

Ireland’s Jordan Kilkenny was third aboard Coco Chanel M, while Conor O’Regan finished fourth with Mendini DR.

Wachman then won the following day’s 1.45m speed class.

The pair were best of eight clears in 60.65 seconds, landing victory ahead of USA’s Laura Chapot with Diarado’s Flying Dutchman.

“She is new to me as I only started with her at the beginning of WEF,” explained Wachman.

“In her last four classes, she won three and was second in one so she’s been quite successful. She has a very big stride so I tried to use that to my advantage today and leave out strides in a few places,” said Tom Wachman.