Edited Press Release
Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam added his name to the American Gold Cup for the second time on Sunday. Riding his 2024 Olympic mount James Kann Cruz, he raced to a win in the iconic event to cap the final week of Traverse City Horse Shows in Northern Michigan.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Sweetnam and his 11-year-old Irish-bred gelding (Kannan x Cruising), owned by Gizmo Partners, were last to jump clear in the opening round where nine horses cracked the code on the Cedric Longis (FRA) designed course. Returning as the final challenger in the jump-off, Sweetnam put James Kann Cruz’s massive stride and scope to the test to eclipse fellow Irishman Conor Swail by four tenths of a second.
“[The American Gold Cup] is one of the biggest grand prix in America, if not the biggest,” said Sweetnam, who also won the title in 2022. “I’m lucky to have a great horse. Conor really set the bar and then I had to take a risk as well, and I got away with it.”
Crossing the final timers in 39.54 seconds, Sweetnam pipped Swail, who settled for second aboard Casturano in 39.91 seconds.
“Obviously, the two boys behind me were going to try to beat me and I needed to put a bit of pressure on them. Casturano hasn’t done that many five-star grand prix,” said Swail of the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Castelan 3 x Canturo) owned by Conall Murray. “I would say maybe where I lost it as opposed to where Shane won it; I had a real good shot over to the second to last, but Casturano goes a little left and he jumped that extravagantly. That threw me a bit too much to the outside.
“I’m thrilled, but I’m disappointed, obviously, because winning the American Gold Cup would be amazing,” concluded Swail.
Michael Morrissey climbed atop the podium in third riding Incento S.A., an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Voltaire Pref) owned by Ash Atkinson. The pair is a new match and the American Gold Cup was a lofty goal set just hours prior.
“I felt like I’ve won the class being on the podium,” said Morrissey after crossing the timers in 44.32 seconds for third. “A couple days ago I wasn’t planning on jumping this class. I wasn’t even planning on jumping a five-star until a couple of weeks ago, and wasn’t riding this horse until three weeks ago, so it’s been a dream.
Click here to read more, and to see complete competition results click here.
Eleanor Hellman and Lilibet Leap to Win $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
The final day of the 2024 Tournament of Champions welcomed the last of weekly hunter derby offerings throughout the Traverse City Horse Shows season. In the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Hunt & Go Eleanor Hellman of Franklin, TN, piloted Lilibet, owned by Sabrina Hellman, to victory with a total score of 171 points.
Putting forward a picturesque performance, Hellman handled the questions raised by the hunt & go track with east, and showed off several of the nine-year-old Holsteiner mare’s (by Cascadello I) strong suits. The pair received the highest overall score from the judging panels and remained a comfortable two points ahead of the second-place finisher, who totaled a 169.
“My mom bought this horse about two years ago initially to be for her, but she was a little green,” Hellman explained. “I only started showing her in the middle of the summer. Before that we did a lot together at home and I think that’s why she and I do so well together. We bought her to be a 2’6” horse, but she seems to be liking the derby job.”
While Hellman typically prefers a classic two-round hunter derby style, she added that the day’s course suited her mare in multiple ways.
Click here to read more, and to see complete competition results click here.
