KAN Cruise was guided to his second TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix win of 2022 by young rider Lee Carey at Killossery Lodge Stud last Sunday.

The nine-year-old gelding by Kannan out of Ms Cruise (Cruising) is owned by his rider’s uncle John Carey and Grandad Leo Carey, and was bred at the family’s Cloomkee Stud in Co Mayo.

Carey partnered the gelding during his five- and six-year-old campaigns before handing over the reins to Gabriel Slattery for a couple of years while he was away working for Simon Davis in England. He returned home last year and began competing at Grand Prix level.

So far this year, in addition to last weekend’s victory, they won the Spring Tour in Broadmeadows at the end of February, as well as taking a third place in Cavan at the end of January and they now stand in second place on the overall leaderboard with 30 points.

Just nine of the original 30-strong start list made it through to the jump-off over the Tom Holden-designed track at the Co Dublin venue.

Carey proved fastest of these, producing the only sub-40 second clear round in the jump-off, crossing the finish line in a time of 39.91 to snatch the victory.

Another young rider, Robyn Moran and Vera Griffin’s eight-year-old gelding Cushlas Fryday (Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve x Apache D’Adriers) took the runner-up spot, stopping the clock at 40.32.

This is the pair’s second time being pipped at the post in as many weeks; having finished runners-up in Wexford at the beginning of the month.

Creevegh Special (Camiro De Haar Z x Harlequin Du Carel), ridden and owned by John Mulligan, slotted into third in 42.09, while Kingdom Come (Kingdom - Topless) took fourth place in 44.26 with Michelle Kenny on board.

Robert Garland’s Zedlepplin (Luidam x Cavalier Royale), ridden by Jamie Garland, were fifth in 46.17. David O’Connor completed the line-up taking sixth place aboard his father Barry’s Dutch-bred gelding Domino Van de Valhoeve.

The remaining trio in the timed decider; Robyn Moran (Coolminga Inspector Royal), Michelle Kenny (Barcelona) and Seamus Hennessy (King Louis AE) had one fence down apiece to finish with four faults.

The next round of the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour takes place today (Saturday) in Tipperary, followed by the 13th round in Cavan tomorrow.

At the midway stage in the league after 10 rounds, John Floody and Accidental Diamond are in the lead on a total of 43 points. While he didn’t feature in the line-up at Killossery, Floody travelled north the day before and won the leg at The Meadows with Accidental Diamond which sees him well out in the lead on 43 points.

Lee Carey is currently the highest placed young rider; he and Kan Cruise are in second place in the league on 30 points, while Jackilynn Breslin (Castlefield Cass) and Katie McEntee (Hip Girl) are tied for third place on 26.