Sweetnam started the day as a hopeful for an American Gold Cup hat trick after winning the historic title in 2022 and 2024 with James Kann Cruz. He and the 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding (Kannan x Cruising) stopped the clock just over a second shy of the winning time in 35.97 to finish second.

The highlight of the summer in North America

“James Kann Cruz was great, Greya [the mount of winning rider, Kent Farrington] is just a faster horse,” admitted Sweetnam. “Even going in, I knew it would be a long shot. I watched Greya’s round and knew that it probably wouldn’t be caught but I’ve already had about six or seven second-place finishes this year, so I was going to give it a go no matter what. I didn’t feel I left much out there.

“For North America, this is the highlight of the summer,” he continued. “Since I’ve come over from Ireland, it has been a special class held at brilliant venues.”

15-year-old Farrel puts Coyle on podium

Fellow Irish Olympian Daniel Coyle piloted Farrel to third in 36.49 for owner Ariel Grange. The podium finish was a momentous one after the now 15-year-old (VDL Cardento x Argelith Stakkato) was sidelined for six years from an injury as a 9-year-old.

“Every round on this horse feels like a bonus because there was a point we never thought he would jump again, let alone double clear in a five-star,” said the world no. 11. “The American Gold Cup is an iconic event for riders from any country, and I’m thrilled to get a piece of it.”

Kent Farrington and Greya win

World number 1 Kent Farrington is setting a new standard with his magnificent mare Greya. Together, they won a record sixth five-star grand prix inside a year to lift the iconic American Gold Cup and claim their share of $340,000 in prize money.

Farrington and the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender) established the standard over Alan Wade’s opening round as the first of an eventual six clear. On theme for the record-breaking day, Wade designed his 11th American Gold Cup track this week.

Third success for Farrington

Greya set the pace yet again in the jump-off at 34.75 seconds, which would stand as the winning result. Farrington has now won the American Gold Cup three times, previously in 2016 and 2020.

“My biggest concern today was going to be measuring the speed it was going to take to win,” said Farrington. “You don’t want to be chasing what somebody else can do—you have to know what your horse’s best possible round is. I tried to put down a solid effort where they were going to have to do something special to beat me, and luckily it worked out.”

The American Gold Cup was first awarded in 1970 and has been won by some of show jumping’s most legendary names throughout its 55-year history.

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Aboard his 2024 Olympic Games mount, Sweetnam topped a 10-horse jump-off set by course designer and fellow Irishman Alan Wade, clocking a winning time of 33.71 seconds..

The US-based Cork-born rider said of his partner, James Kann Cruz,

“We are having a great career together and ‘Gizmo’ is fresh right now, so I wanted to give this class today some respect for $117,000 and try to win it.”

Of his 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding (Kannan x Cruising) owned in partnership with the Gizmo Group, Sweetnam added:

“He’s very sensitive. But if you do the right things, you get a reward for it, so it’s worth it. He feels great and jumped fantastic today, so hopefully we’ll have some luck on Sunday.”

Sweetnam won the American Gold Cup at Traverse City Horse Shows in both 2022 and 2024.

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The high quality class saw 40 horse and rider combinations tackle Alan Wade’s course, but it was the penultimate combination to jump who produced the only clear round of the final day feature competition.

The veteran US rider took the €166,000 winner’s prize on the Cherry Knoll Farm-owned mare.

Former Ireland chef d’équipe Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom claimed the runner-up position with the fastest of 11 four-fault scores. The Brazilian and his partner clocked 73.61 seconds to take home €100,000.

US-based Cork rider Shane Sweetnam finished best of the Irish in third place on the podium with CSF James Kann Cruz, stopping the timers at 74.39 seconds, to win €75,000.

Seven nationalities were represented in the top-10 of the five star €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, with combinations from Germany, Britain, Canada and Mexico joining the three countries represented on the podium.

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Michael Blake’s team of Michael Duffy, Trevor Breen, Shane Sweetnam and Eoin McMahon headed into the team final with less than a time fault separating the top four nations.

Germany held the lead following the first two days of jumping on a score of 9.31, Sweden were second on 9.51 and Switzerland next on 9.92. The Irish team was just outside of the top three on 10.00 with over a fence in hand ahead of Austria in fifth place.

Clear for Michael Duffy and Cinca 3

Galway’s Michael Duffy was first into the arena for Ireland, riding the 14-year-old grey mare Cinca 3. This combination had jumped two clear rounds on Wednesday and Thursday.

This excellent form continued as they again went clear to give Ireland a brilliant start.

Germany’s first line rider Marcus Ehning withdrew from competition, while the final fence fell for Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann. A clear round from Steve Guerdat got Switzerland off to a strong start.

Trevor Breen and Highland President

Trevor Breen was next in for Ireland with Highland President. The Tipperary rider and the 11-year-old gelding were unlucky to roll the final part of the combination, but the result was enough to help move Ireland up to third spot overall.

At the half way stage Ireland were in bronze medal position as Germany dropped to fourth following a fence down for Philipp Weishaupt.

Sweden moved to top spot with a clear from Wilma Hellström, while Switzerland held second though they had two fences down from Bryan Balsiger.

Four faults for Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz were unlucky to add four faults as Sweden extended their lead with a Jens Fredricson clear.

Despite the four faults from Sweetnam, Ireland actually moved into the silver medal position on a score of 14. Switzerland’s third rider, Edouard Schmitz, had three fences down, forcing them to count Balsiger’s eight faults and putting the Swiss on a team score of 17.92.

Ireland move into silver medal position

Tipperary’s Eoin McMahon and the 11-year-old grey mare Mila had one fence down, leaving Ireland on 18 faults in third place.

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs needed to jump clear to hold onto the silver medal, but eight faults from the Swiss saw Michael Blake’s Ireland side move up to second.

Sweden claimed the gold medal and European title on a team score of 9.51, with three of their four riders jumping clear. Ireland took silver with Austria third, ahead of Germany in fourth and Spain in fifth.

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In an exceptional display by the pre-competition favourites and first-ever winners of the famous trophy in 1926, they produced two double clear rounds, and six clear rounds in total, as they ended the two-round Nations Cup on a zero score.

Last year’s winners, Ireland, who had been given a 20% win chance by Equiratings this morning, finished as runners-up on 12 faults in their attempt to successfully defend their title. The home nation has a total of three clear rounds during the class, and their anchor Shane Sweetnam and James Khan Cruz did not jump as it would not have changed their overall finishing position.

The 2018 winners Mexico took the final position on the podium on 16 faults, followed by France on 20, Belgium on 21, The Netherlands on 24, Spain on 28 and Britain on a final score of 57 faults.

Round One

Ireland ended the opening round of the Longines FEI Nations Cup with 8 faults, the same score as 27-time Aga Khan Trophy winners Britain, and France, with the favourites Switzerland – given a 25% win chance by Equiratings – holding a two-fence lead on a zero score.

Irish pathfinder and one of two Aga Khan Trophy debutants, Michael Duffy and Cinca had four faults at the water as did the second-line combination of the other first-timer on the Aga Khan team Mikey Pender and HHS Calais.

Cian O’Connor, the rider with most Aga Khan starts and podium finishes in the last 10 editions, and Eve d’Ouilly, were the third Irish combination into the Main Arena. They also had four faults, this time knocking a pole in the final part of the triple combination.

Kanturk’s Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz brought Michael Blake’s side back into contention with a clear round in front of a packed and nervous crowd.

Switzerland achieved three clear rounds through Steve Guerdat (Venard de Cerisy), Martin Fuchs (Leone Jei) and Edouard Schmitz (Garmin Van’T Naastveldhof), meaning their four faults score from Bryan Balsiger and Chelsea Z became their discard score.

The water caused some problems during the opening round with a total of five combinations incurring faults there. The penultimate fence, the Telecom post boxes with a Liverpool underneath, saw nine participants knock a pole.

Britain and France joined Ireland in joint-second place at the end of the first round – with the three teams on 8 faults.

Belgium and Spain were next, a fence behind, with Mexico on 16 faults and The Netherlands bringing up the rear on 20 faults.

Round Two

The Swiss took up where they had ended the first round with each of their first three combinations all going clear. Steve Guerdat and Venard De Cerisy as well as Martin Fuchs and Leone JEI achieved exceptional double clear rounds, while second-line rider Bryan Balsiger and Chelsea Z, who faulted in the first round, went better at his second attempt.

With Fuchs’ second clear the Swiss were uncatchable, meaning their final-line rider Edouard Schmitz didn’t jump.

Course builder Alan Wade later described it as “poetry in motion watching them jump clear after clear.”

Michael Duffy and Cinca got Ireland off to the best possible start in the second round, going clear in 70.96 seconds. Mikey Pender and HHS Calais matched their four-fault first round, before Cian O’Connor riding Eve D’Ouilly produced a faultless round.

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz then withdrew as they were safe in the runners-up position, and unable to catch chef d’équipe Michel Sorg’s side.

Switzerland have won the Aga Khan Cup at the RDS, while Ireland finished as the runners-up with Mexico in third place. #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/5cLLC3ZUmR

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 11, 2023

“It’s very special to stand on the podium; it’s an amazing arena,” admitted Sorg. “It’s a dream of everybody to win this Aga Khan Trophy. It’s been a while.”

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

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The England-based rider and the 12-year-old gelding took the winner’s cheque of €17,358 with a clear round in the jump-off, stopping the timer in 34.52 seconds.

Howley’s compatriot Harry Allen, whose older brother Bertram won the earlier Speed Derby, was second with Calculatus, jumping clear in the jump-off round in a time of 36.85 seconds.

Greek rider Ioli Mytillineou, riding Levis de Muze, was third in 38.00, winning €7,890.

The next two positions went to Irish combinations, with Denis Lynch and Vistogrand fourth in 34.83, followed by 2018 winner Shane Sweetnam and yesterday’s Sport Ireland Classic winner Out of the Blue Scf (36.80).

Howley’s win was a first for Ireland in the class since 2018 when US-based Shane Sweetnam and Indra van de Oude Heiheof claimed victory by just 0.59 seconds.

It was only a fifth victory for the home nation since 2011.

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

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Blake’s side will jump fifth of the eight competing nations, as Ireland aim for back-to-back wins in the Aga Khan Trophy at the RDS.

Aga Khan Trophy debutant Michael Duffy and Cinca 3 will be the Irish pathfinders.

Next into the Main Arena for the home nation will be another Aga Khan Trophy first timer in Mikey Pender and the Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais.

The experienced Cian O’Connor and Eve D’Ouilly will be next to jump for Ireland, while US-based Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz will be the anchor leg.

Speaking at the team draw on Friday morning, Michael Blake said:

“I’m very confident, I have named a strong team – but there are very strong teams here.

“Michel Duffy has been on three Nations Cup teams this season with Cinca 3 and jumped five clear rounds out of six. So we will start off with him as our first rider in.

“Michael Pender has jumped in two Nations Cup and was outstanding in Rome with HHS Calais.

“We are going to put Cian in third, which some might find unusual. He’s on a new horse to him, who is less experienced, so he can go in and jump his own round without as much pressure.

“Shane is on one of the best horses in the world right now, so we’re going to let him carry the weight of the world and put him in last.”

The eight nations competing for the Aga Khan Trophy will jump in the following order:

1. Mexico
2. The Netherlands
3. Spain
4. Great Britain
5. Ireland
6. Belgium
7. France
8. Switzerland

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The US-based Kanturk native and the nine-year-old mare Out of the Blue Scf were last of the 46 combinations to go in the Sport Ireland Classic, the day’s premier class.

Spaniard Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Legend had held the lead for much of the competition with a clear in 66.88 seconds.

With the Irish combination last into the arena, they produced the 19th clear round of the class, and stopped the timer at 66.15 seconds, giving them the €8,646 first prize.

The win for the home nation continued the excellent form of Irish riders in the Sport Ireland Classic, having taking victory seven of the last 10 years prior to today.

Max Wachman, riding Coolmore Showjumping’s Quintini, was next in the line-up, with a time of 67.10 seconds, while his trainer and Olympic medallist Cian O’Conor claimed fourth spot aboard Tipperary (67.54).

Swiss Steve Guerdat was fifth in a time of 67.99 seconds with Albfuehren’s Maddox.

Shane Breen who had 6 clear rounds in this class since 2010, maintained his excellent record, with finishing clear in 68.20 seconds with Cuick Star Kervec, good enough for a 6th place finish.

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

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The Irish Show Jumping team will bid to defend the title they won at the RDS last year. This season, Ireland has placed second last week’s five-star Nations Cup in Hickstead, and earlier in the season achieved wins in Rome and Langley, Canada.

Speaking ahead of the Dublin Horse Show, which begins on Wednesday and runs until Sunday, Michael Blake said:

“We have had a very good year so far. We bring forward a very strong squad, who have displayed excellent Nations Cup form this year. There are some strong teams for this year’s renewal of the Aga Khan Trophy, but I am confident that we have an equally strong team. We have the added advantage of the amazing support from the home fans.

The squad in alphabetical order is:

• Daniel Coyle riding Legacy, owned by Ariel Grange and Daniel Coyle.
• Michael P Duffy riding Cinca 3, owned by Hibernian Sport Horses Ltd.
• Cian O’Connor riding Eve D’ouilly, owned by Nicole Walker.
• Michael Pender riding HHS Calais, owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd.
• Shane Sweetnam riding James Kann Cruz, owned by Gizmo Partners LLC.

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The visitor denied two of Ireland’s Aga Khan Trophy-winning combinations from Friday, Conor Swail with Count Me In and Shane Sweetnam with the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz as they filled second and third places respectively.

Ireland’s Andrew Bourns and the Irish Sport Horse Sea Topblue were fourth while French combination Megane Moissonnier and Cordial were fifth.

Ireland’s Rhys Williams and the 7-year-old Playboy JT Z took the International 7 & 8 year-old competition. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch with Dark Chocolate took the runner-up spot, while Jason Higgins and Heritage MBF came third.

Kildare’s Mikey Pender achieved yet another RDS win on Sunday when winning the six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Championship with HHS Rose. Leah Stack and Laurina won the 5-Year-Old ‘Flexible’ National Championship.

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