CONOR Swail pulled off a remarkable double one-two on Thursday at Desert International Horse Park in California. In the biggest class of the day, the $32,000 CSI3* 1.50m Speed, Casturano was his winning ride, and his stablemate Count Me In was close behind by about one-tenth of a second. The next biggest class of the day, the $25,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic, saw Swail in first and second as well, this time aboard Gamble and Vital Chance de la Roque, respectively.

Another Irish rider making moves late in the week was Richard Howley, who emerged victorious in the CSI5* 1.50m Longines Ranking class at CHI Al Shaqab, Doha, on Thursday, aboard Zodiak du Buisson Z. Full coverage in next week’s edition.