SHANE Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse gelding James Kann Cruz narrowly missed out on the top spot in the CSI5* Grand Prix in Wellington, taking second place in the feature class of week nine of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, Sweetnam finished second in the 1.60m $425,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix. He partnered his Aga Khan Trophy-winning mount James Kann Cruz, an Irish Sport Horse bred by James Connolly and owned by Gizmo Partners LLC.

One of only four riders to jump clear in the opening round, Sweetnam jumped another clear round in the jump-off in a time of 43.85 seconds. Daniel Bluman (ISR) riding Ladriano Z won the class, finishing narrowly ahead of Sweetnam in a time of 43.24 seconds. The home nation finished third with Karl Cook and Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet completing the podium.

Double for Allen

Earlier this week Sweetnam won the 1.45m ranking class on Friday evening with 14-year-old gelding Alejandro, owned by Elan Farm and Wexford native Bertram Allen had a double.

Allen won the 1.45m ranking class with the ninw-year-old gelding Edison De Hus, owned by Ballywalter Stables and Maximillan Lill, on Wednesday and the 1.55m ranking class with his Tokyo Olympic and World Championship mount, the Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro, owned by Aiden McGrory, on Thursday.

Speaking about the success of Irish riders this week, Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Manager Michael Blake said: "Alejandro and Shane are a very experienced partnership. They were early to go and really put the rest of the class under pressure. So far it’s been a great week with two wins for Bertram and Shane’s win today."

Adding to the Irish success, Meath native Nicky Galligan finished third in the 1.50m ranking class in the CSI3* in Thermal, USA riding his own Javas Miss Jordan, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare.

Breeding details

James Kann Cruz (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan (KWPN) out of CSF Telly Cruz (ISH) by Cruising (ISH). Breeder: Patrick Connolly. Owner: Gizmo Partners LLC. Rider: Shane Sweetnam (IRL)

Pacino Amiro (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) by NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Aiden McGrory. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL)

Javas Miss Jordan (ISH) – 2009 mare by Luidam (KWPN) out of Ally Angel (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD). Breeder: Judy Murphy, Co. Louth. Owner and Rider: Nicky Galligan (IRL).

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange

Charles Ancona – Official athlete clothing supplier to HSI’s Senior Olympic programmes.

Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release