AUSTIN O’Connor and the Salty Syndicate’s five-star winning hero Colorado Blue have wasted no time in establishing their form this season, when brilliantly filling the runner-up spot in the prestigious Grantham Cup CCI4* at the Thoresby Park Spring International last weekend. Contending the feature class, which sported a start list of eventing royalty both equine and human, the pair were in contention from the get go and, foot-perfect in both jumping phases, completed behind winners Emily King with Valmy Biats. Posting the fastest time of the day and in the best of company, O’Connor edged ahead of the third placed world champions Ros Canter and Banzai du Loir, as well as Tim Price with his Olympic partner Vitali.

“It’s great to be back out and it all worked well,” said O’Connor. “Despite the weather, the team at Thoresby pulled out all the stops to run and it ended being very safe ground.” Speaking of his scorching round across the country he added, “Salty is a horse you always have to ride competitively and, had the ground been perfect, he would have easily made the time. He has wintered well and, if anything, has come out stronger and better again – which is great!”