SHANE Sweetnam, Conor Swail and Mark McAuley all landed five-star wins at CHI Geneva last weekend.

McAuley, who lives just 30 minutes away from the city over the French border, was first off the board in Thursday’s opening class, the 1.40m Table A. McAuley guided the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare GRS Lady Amaro to victory when best of 13 clear rounds in a time of 56.09 seconds, almost a second faster than Swiss runner-up Elian Baumann with Clintfino (0/ 56.90).

By Amaretto D’Arco, GRS Lady Amaro was bred in Wexford by Denis Hickey out of the Over The River mare Legal Lady. She was produced by McAuley’s first cousin, Patrick Hickey, until he purchased the mare and took over the ride this time last year. “I always try to perform in Geneva because it’s become a second home for me. It’s a great start to the weekend,” he commented afterwards.

A great performance from Tipperary’s Max Wachman on the same day saw him take third place in the CSIU25 1.40m. Riding Coolmore Showjumping’s Quintini, he was clear in 55.01 seconds. Winner of the class was Liechtenstein’s Jennifer Hochstadter and Golden Lady, clear in 52.61.

Wachman and Quintini went on to finish eight in Saturday’s Under 25 Grand Prix, from a starting field of 29 starters, with a double-clear round.

You can ‘Count on Me’

Conor Swail made his trip from the USA to Geneva worthwhile when winning Friday’s 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier at the venue. Riding Mannon Farm’s Aga Khan-winning hero Count Me In (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes), he landed victory after he delivered a penalty-free performance in 60.73 seconds.

Germany’s Marcus Ehning secured second place on the stallion Funky Fred penalties in a time of 62.09, ahead of Swiss rider Elian Bauman and Little Lumpi E (64.46). Shane Sweetnam finished sixth with Alejandro, coming home with nothing to add in a time of 65.27.

Speaking afterwards Swail said: “The course was really technical, and there were a lot of faults too. I had two options before I went out there: to make sure I went clear or to go for speed. I went for option two. My horse is very quick and I gave it all I had.

“I’m delighted to be in Geneva and to have qualified for the Rolex Grand Prix. I’m lucky enough to have one of the best horses in the world in Count Me In.”

Sweetnam’s good form

Shane Sweetnam also made the mammoth trip from the USA with two horses and both performed exceptionally. While CSF James Kann Cruz was on the Grand Prix podium (see story above), Alejandro won Saturday’s 1.55m Credit Suisse Challenge.

In a hugely competitive class, Sweetnam’s clear round in 63.13 seconds was just fractions quicker than Sweden’s world number one, Henrik von Eckermann, who had to settle for second place with Glamour Girl.

Conor Swail slotted into fourth place with Vital Chance De La Roque in 65.58 and very nearly had a fall after crossing the final line when the gelding lost his bridle (see picture on page 83).

On Thursday, Sweetnam finished third in the 1.60m jump-off class with James Kann Cruz; they put in a faultless performance in a time of 35.26. Leading the victory lap was Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and VDL Edgar M, when they came home in 33.87.