The lead changed hands several times in the final moments of the $73,800 Callidae CSI5* 1.50m on Friday as momentum builds during Major League Show Jumping at the American Gold Cup. In the end, Ireland's Shane Sweetnam was the ultimate victor from a 10-horse jump-off over tracks built by Alan Wade (IRL). Sweetnam piloted James Kann Cruz in the mount's international debut at Traverse City Horse Shows.
Sweetnam and the brilliant James Kann Cruz, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Kannan x Cruising), owned by Gizmo Partners LLC, beat out the likes of Mclain Ward (USA) riding Ilias and Daniel Bluman (ISR) on Gemma W, who ultimately finished second and third, respectively.
Partners for a year, Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz returned from a successful tour in Europe to try and add their names to the prestigious American Gold Cup trophy on Sunday. Also a member of the MLSJ's Spy Coast Spies, Sweetnam will jump for his team on Saturday evening in the irons of Birdy du Thot.
"During this show last year I flew over to try him. Since he came over we’ve been learning each other. He just got back from Europe and I haven’t really gone that fast with him since I’ve had him. Now the target is to try to go a bit faster and try to win some classes. It was great that it paid off today," Shane Sweetnam said.