Conor Swail claimed fourth place with Cita in this evening’s $86,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier at the four-star meeting in North Salem, USA.

The Irish rider was one of the eleven out of seventy-three starters who negotiated Alan Wade’s course without fault in the opening round and made good time in the jump-off with Susan and Ariel Grange’s nine year-old, but was outpaced by three American riders, fastest of whom was Georgina Bloomberg on board Caleno.

It was a good night for home riders, and but for Swail the Americans would have netted the top five places.

Four faults apiece kept Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z) and Richie Moloney (Carrabis Z) out of the decider, but both finished high enough to qualify for Sunday’s Grand Prix, as did Capt. Brian Cournane (Javas Keltic Mist) who was one of the fastest of the eight-faulters.

Mike Dunne

 

CSI4* North Salem, USA
$86,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier presented by Windsor Show Stables
1. Caleno/Georgina Bloomberg (USA) 0/0 36.53
2. Hester/Lucy Deslauriers (USA) 0/0 37.25
3. Toulago/Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) 0/0 37.73
4. Cita/Conor Swail (IRL) 0/0 39.11
5. Confu/Laura Kraut (USA) 0/0 40.93