Shane Sweetnam Soars to American Gold Cup Win

schedule

24/09/2024

Shane Sweetnam & James Kann Cruz. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

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.

Top five $340,000 FEI 5* American Gold Cup

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) su James Kann Cruz – 39,54 secondi | Premio: $112.200
Conor Swail (IRL) su Casturano – 39,91 secondi | Premio: $68.000
Michael Morrissey (USA) su Incento S.A. – 44,32 secondi | Premio: $51.000
Kaitlin Campbell (USA) su Castlefield Cornelious – 45,08 secondi | Premio: $34.000
Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) su Dicas – 46,55 secondi | Premio: $20.400