Irish at home in Spruce
Strong week for Green Jackets on international circuitThe phrase horses for courses was coined for a reason and it was illustrated clearly once more in the form of three Irish five-star triumphs at Spruce Meadows Masters show in the past few days.Conor Swail is among the leading prize money winners ever at the vaunted Canadian venue, and his former protg at Lothlorien Farm, Daniel Coyle has enjoyed an outstanding decade there too. Coyles older brother, Jordan is another regular victor, and particularly with For Gold (Falkirk Farms), the 15-year-old that scored six times at elite level there in the summer of 2025 and added to the top-flight success 12 months ago.So it probably was no surprise that all of them were in the winners enclosure Swail with Casturano (Conall Murray) and Daniel Coyle with Calippo 57 (Ariel Grange), even though the calibre of opposition was high-class. And, of course, the three riders also made significant contributions along with Denis Lynch for Ireland to finish second in Fridays BMO Nations Cup.In America, Shane Sweetnam was on the podium at the five-star MLSJ Grand Prix in Traverse City, as the Patrick Connolly-bred James Kann Cruz (Gizmo Partners) made his reappearance after the World Championships, and the Cork pilot also triumphed in the two-star Grand Prix with Qmusic-K vanT Kattenheye (Ashley Vogel) in their first GP as a pairing.There were two-star victories also for Daniel Fitzgerald and Tom Wachman, while Philip McGuane, Thomas OBrien and Daniel McAlinden were all on FEI podiums.Daniel Coyle got it going late Wednesday night Irish time in the International Ring as the Spruce Meadows Masters show commenced.With 21 clear rounds in the Cardel Homes Cup, it was going to take something special to win the 1.55m class. And that is what the Derry athlete and Calippo 57 produced (main pic above). While Coyle himself, is an old hand around Calgary, his partnership with Calippo is a relatively new one but they were fast, not furious, but faultless in 40.24 to score in convincing fashion.He had also had Gisborne VDL (Ariel Grange) in the jump-off and they were joined by Lynch and Vistogrand (Tipperarys Finest) as well as Jordan Coyle with For Gold, but those combinations were unable to keep the obstacles intact.In my experience here, its one of the most important days, said Daniel Coyle in the subsequent press conference.To get off to a good start doing anything is very important but especially here, to qualify on the first day, it feels like a weight lifted. And the rest of the week, you dont need to plan everything to get to the Grand Prix now, we can plan to do the other classes and not put all the eggs in one basket. Its a relief. Both horses jumped great and Im happy.I thought I wasnt going fast enough but I forgot the middle part was fast, Coyle continued in his post-round debrief. (Calippo) was very good.The ATCO Cup 1.50m kicked off the international action on Thursday and 11 of the initial 46 pairings survived the opening round.Swail has always felt like home at Spruce Meadows but with a sort of soft Irish rain, falling in the jump-off, it seemed almost unfair on the opposition as the Down native and Casturano (above) floated across the damp turf and over the obstacles, leaving all the rails in place and stopping the clock in 41.30 seconds to take the win.Darragh Kenny and Zero K (Andrzej Oplatek) also participated in the tiebreaker and they posted a faster time of 41.07 but one imprecise jump proved extremely costly.It was Jordan Coyles turn on Sunday, as he and For Gold (below) supplemented their stupendous record in Calgary when waltzing to victory in the Suncor Cup. The 1.50m class produced only three double clears and For Gold was very much in his comfort zone as a speed merchant to set a time of 55.80, that was more than six seconds quicker than runner-up Sean Jobin (CAN), with Arkuga.The top 10 after the first round returned a second time and Daniel Coyle was involved at the sharp end with Gisborne VDL, as was Kenny with Zero K, but they both had jumping errors when the taps were turned on and finished fifth and sixth respectively.Richard Vogel (GER) was the last into the arena and the World No 1 threatened to deny the man from Ardmore, with Chember 3 certainly quick enough. The duo posted a time of 53.59 but knocked a rail and the elder Coyle could breathe.Weve been trying all week and it hasnt been going to plan, so to get the win today is good, said Jordan in a post-competition interview.No matter what you do, theres a chance that Richard can beat you so I was lucky today.What (For Gold) does every time is unbelievable. He was here last summer and he might have won six or seven classes. He likes this place!In Michigan, it was a week to remember for Sweetnam, with perhaps the highlight being competing in the MLSJ team competition with his teenage daughter, Olivia.The five-star Grand Prix was truly elite stuff, however, and if the son of Castlemagner was not able to raise the Tricolour this time, there was a strong Irish link as Nina Mallevaey (FRA) prevailed with My Clementine (ISH), bred in Co Down by David Prentice. The mare had only made her five-star debut the previous week but triumphed in this $340,000 Major League Show despite the best efforts of Kent Farrington (USA) with Greya, and Sweetnam (IRL) with James Kann Cruz.Five combinations in all survived the opening round and less than half a second separated the top three. Sweetnam (below right on the podium) and Gizmo stopped the timers in 40.97 but Farrington and his mount registered 40.66 and the winning time was a tenth of a second quicker than that.If you asked me today what the podium would be, I would tell you it would probably be these three combinations, reflected Sweetnam, who won last weeks MLSJ Grand Prix with Coriaan van Klapscheut Z. Ninas won everywhere with that horse, Kent obviously wins everywhere, and my horse is consistently there as well. It shows you how good a sport it is, especially in America. Its changed in the last five years, and with Matt [Morrissey] and Keean [White] putting on Major League, its really upped our sport. We have the best combinations jumping here, and were showing the top sport.Making for a strong day of international results, Sweetnam stood atop the podium Saturday afternoon in the $62,500 MLSJ two-star Grand Prix. Aboard Qmusic-K Vant Kattenhaye (below), he produced the only double-clear effort for the win. Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) was just behind for second place on a quick four-fault score, while Erynn Ballard (CAN) finished third on Ravallo Van De Helle.There was four-star competition at Old Salem Farm, where Philip McGuane plotted a route to third with Donvier (Evergate Stables) in a 1.45m two-phase class on Thursday. Samantha Schaefer and James Bond HX had too much horsepower in the speed phase, stopping the clock in 26.29 to take the spoils from fellow American Brian Moggre, with Johann FS Z.McGuane and his 14-year-old gelding were highly competitive however, within a second of the standard setter with a clear in 27.25 to round out the podium.And the Clare pilot rounded off the week with another bronze medal in the 200,000 Blue Diamond Cup on Sunday night.Alan Wade set a stern 17-jump first round that only five combinations were able to navigate without error, and the Irishmans decisive test proved just that, with only Nicolette Hirt-Slade (USA) and Dalton van de Lindhoeve Z registering a second clear.In that context, there was a lot to like about McGuanes composure in clocking 40.48 with Paso Doble SCF (Evergate Stables) as all the other pairings posted four faults but the Irish duo were quick enough to earn a major rosette.Daniel McAlinden finished third in a 1.45m speed class on Thursday to qualify for the Grand Prix at the two-star show at the Green Valley Estate venue in Deurne. Riding the Michael Griffin-bred Irish Sport Horse Philly Fogarty (Butler Court Stables), the Galwegian clocked a time of 68.19, just more than three-quarters of a second behind the standard set by USA legend Laura Kraut, with Carquilara PS.Daniel Fitzgerald did even better in Fridays qualifier, getting the better of Kraut and Carquilara PS, who were third, to win the jump-off class, on board Guerlain de Kreisker (Aloga Stables). The Kildare athlete and his horse jumped an immaculate double clear, and their tiebreak time of 32.27 was enough to claim the spoils.Tom Wachman, from Tipperary, was a two-star winner also, guiding Hawaii (Gizmo Partners & Coolmore Showjumping) to the garlands in a speed class, thanks to a time of 63.36 that saw off Gerfried Puck (AUT) and Idiaal Special H by exactly three-quarters of a second at La Caccia Stables in Bedizzole, Italy on Friday.And another Galway man, Thomas OBrien grabbed a silver in the Ising am Chiemsee two-star Grand Prix in Germany on Sunday, partnering Saint Vidal S (Yvette OBrien) to a double clear with a jump-off time of 36.47. Max Weishaupt (GER) was victorious with Cosmo von Imhoff.BREEDINGMY CLEMENTINE (ISH) 2015 ch mare by Obos Quality 004 (OLDBG) out of Qualisca de Vansichant (SBS) by Kashmir van Schuttershof (SBS). Breeder: David Prentice, Co Down. Owner: Rein Family. Rider: Nina Mallevaey (FRA)CSF JAMES KANN CRUZ (ISH) 2013 gelding by Kannan (KWPN) out of CSF Telly Cruz (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Patrick Connolly, Co Galway. Owner: Gizmo Partners, LLC. Rider: Shane Sweetnam (IRL).PHILLY FOGARTY (ISH) 2017 br gelding by Aganix Du Seigneur (SBS) out of Rosgreen Queen (ISH) by Harlequin Du Carel (SF). Breeder: Michael Griffin: Owner: Butler Court Stables. Rider: Daniel McAlinden (IRL).The post Irish at home in Spruce appeared first on .
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