IRELAND’S James Chawke continued his consistent run of form, when he won Saturday’s two-star $90,000 Del Mar Classic Grand Prix at Del Mar in California on Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide mare (Dieu-Merci van T&L x Bamako de Muze), owned by Jan Van Alken. From 30 starters, just eight jumped clear in the first round to book their place in the jump-off, with seven of them jumping again. Four combinations managed to keep all the poles intact second time out, with Chawke’s time of 39.7 seconds the fastest to claim the win and the $29,700 top prize. He finished almost two seconds ahead of Australian runner-up Matthew Williams on NKH Vittorio S (41.48).

Chawke said afterwards: “My horse is very quick, so I always know I have a good chance in the jump-off. Our plan went how I wanted it to and it was fast enough today.