CO Down’s Conor Swail finished on top of the podium in the five-star $32,000 1.45m speed class on board Theo 160 last Wednesday, as week four of competitions kicked off at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California. There were 39 starters in the class, with 22 of them jumping clear within the time allowed over the course, designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade.

Swail was first in and flew round the course on Theo 160 to stop the clock in 59.80 seconds, which proved unbeatable. Swail narrowly won the class from American runner-up Lillie Keenan on Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN (59.87), with Canada’s Erynn Ballard in third on Mullentine Shalom (61.64). The Irish presence continued, as Swail also finished fourth with My Lady Lavista (61.98) and David O’Brien on Fairson TS finished fifth (64.61).

“There are so many good riders and competitors here that I thought I maybe left a little bit of time there,” said Swail afterwards. “Thankfully, it was a good day for Theo and me because we finished up on top.

Wonderful horse

“Theo’s been a wonderful horse in my string now over the last three or four years,” he said of the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Mannon Farm. “He loves the Desert Horse Park. He always thrives here, and today again, he really did a top job. He’s awfully brave… you can take a lot of risk on the turns. You can really sweep into any fence sideways or any way at all. He really is so good at that.”

On Thursday, Swail placed fifth and seventh in the five-star $117,000 1.55m Grand Prix qualifier, with Theo 160 and My Lady Lavista respectively. The class was won by Mathijs van Asten (NED) on Cassina Dior.

Friday’s $24,999 1.40m Open Classic saw a ninth-place finish for Christopher Megahey on Casian S, while Mark Kinsella on Cosmona placed sixth in the $1,500 1.40m Open class.

On Saturday, O’Brien rode El Balou Old into fifth place in the five-star $340,000 1.60m Grand Prix, when he was among seven first-round clears from the 21 starters to proceed to the jump-off. There were only two double clears in the class – winner Kent Farrington (USA) on Toulayna and Jos Verlooy (BEL) on the Irish Sport Horse FTS Killossery Konfusion, who continued his run of form. The 15-year-old horse was bred by Frank and Laura Glynn in Co Dublin and is by SIEC Livello (HOLST), out of Killossery Kruisette (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH].