CO Down’s Conor Swail took victory in Saturday’s three-star $117,000 1.50m Grand Prix at Desert Horse Park, Thermal, California riding One Edition. From 24 starters, only six jumped clear in the first round to make it into the jump-off, where four completed double clear rounds.

Fastest

Swail was fastest of these with One Edition stopping the clock in 39.24 seconds, just under a second ahead of Canadian runner-up Ali Ramsay on Conrado 12 (40.14), with Paris Sellon (USA) on Anna Jo completing the podium in third (42.45). Mark Kinsella on Casira was a close fourth (42.74), while Swail also claimed 10th place on Count Me In.

“[The win] was a bit of a surprise really!” said Swail. “The first day [this week] she was a little green. She jumped great yesterday, and I thought, ‘Why not try her today?’”

The 10-year-old mare One Edition, owned by Vanessa Mannix, is usually competed by James Chawke, who is out of the saddle due to an injury, so Swail is filling in.

“Vanessa owns her, so [One Edition] is part of our team, and she has been for the past couple of years,” explained Swail. “She’s competed very successfully with James. He brought her along very nicely. She’s done a few ranking classes and has won a lot. Luckily enough for me, I’m able to step in there and ride her for a little while.”

Placings

Week six of the Desert Circuit took place last week and hosted some three-star classes. Thursday’s three-star $32,000 1.50m Welcome Speed class saw Irish riders claiming second, third and fourth placings. From 30 starters, David O’Brien on El Balou OLD placed second, Mark Kinsella on Casira was third and Swail on One Edition was fourth. The class was won by Kyle King (USA) on Ezio de Emeraud.

Friday’s $10,000 1.35m class saw Mark Finnerty finish seventh with Silas DS Z, when he clocked a quick time in the jump-off, but had an unfortunate fence down.

O’Brien and Fairson TS finished on the podium when third in the three-star $10,000 1.45m Speed class.