Swail produces back-to-back wins at five star Spruce Meadows

  • 3 July 2015, 10:46

WITH many of the world’s top horses and riders competing at Spruce Meadows in Canada this weekend, Ireland’s Conor Swail nevertheless was able to produce back-to-back wins last night (Thursday) at the five-star venue.

Though placing second in three different competitions during the previous week at Spruce Meadows, and finishing in the top five three more times, a win had eluded the Ulsterman.

But yesterday Swail made up for lost time by beginning the day with victory in the Suncast Cup riding Susan Grange’s gelding Simba de la Roque, and collecting 11,000 euro as the first prize.

Talking about Simba de la Roque, Swail said: ““Sometimes he can be tricky enough to ride. He gets a little careful and nervous, so it is just about trying to hold his hand and make it as comfortable for him as possible. You have to find out what is enough and maybe take a step back and then move forward again. He has been fabulous and I am looking forward to the months ahead with him.”

The Co. Down rider then went on to claim victory in the bigger Progress Energy Cup with Vanessa Mannix’s stallion Grand Cru vd Vijf Eiken, their double clear round earning Swail a further 19,000 euro.

Swail said afterwards of his jump-off round: “I think it was very smooth. My horse is an extremely big mover. Fence one to two was smooth. I went down to the double nicely and I was trying to get one less stride after the double, but I did not get it. I got a nice eight strides to the white jump that not too many people got. Then I turned to the last fence and saw a distance extremely early and thankfully the horse picked up on it. We really raced to the last and he jumped it extremely well off a very difficult distance and speed, so he was very good to do that.”

Michael Culbert, President & CEO, Progress Energy presents Conor Swail with his winning prize of $28,000.

Michael Culbert, President & CEO, Progress Energy
presents Conor Swail with his winning prize of $28,000.