Thermal, Calif. – Conor Swail has proven to be the one to beat at Desert International Horse Park’s Desert Circuit 10, presented by KASK & Vogel. On Friday, March 13, Swail rode Casturano to victory in the $32,000 BRAINJUICE CSI4* 1.45m Classic, marking the Irish riders third win in as many days.
Conor Swail and Casturano, joined in their winning victory gallop by Swail’s dog, Ralph. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“This is [Casturano’s] last show before the World Cup Final [in April],” said Swail. “The idea of this week was basically just do a couple smaller classes and be competitive. He has done nothing but CSI5* after CSI5* grand prix. He actually has jumped clear in his last five CSI5* grand prix. So, his form has been incredible.”
Swail continued, “I thought it’d just be nice for him to be able to drop down a little bit and be competitive, because that first day in the World Cup is a speed. So, right off the bat, he has to be very quick and efficient. Thankfully, he’s had a good week. He was second the first day and then he won today. So, I’m very happy.”
Pat Boyle of DIHP presented Conor Swail and Casturano as the winners of the $32,000 BRAINJUICE CSI4* 1.45m Classic. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Swail and “Stan” were one of 30 entries that took on Friday’s course, designed by Peter Grant, and they were one of 14 to navigate it without fault.
From there, Canada’s Ali Ramsay threw down the gauntlet as the first to return for the short course, stopping the clock in a clear time of 42.30 seconds aboard Maaike Paola. In pursuit of Ramsay’s time 10 out of the 13 entries that elected to return saw rails fall. Only Swail and Keri Potter were able to join Ramsay in producing double clear efforts, and both of them just narrowly edged out the Canadian rider.
Swail and Stan stopped the clock in 42.14 seconds for the win, while Potter and King of Kannan, owned by Azure Coast Sporthorses LLC, finished in second with a time of 42.23 seconds. Ramsay and Maaike Paola, owned by Ramsay Equestrian, Inc. held on to third place.
“The jump-off track, I felt I didn’t do it very well to be honest,” said Swail. “Nothing really showed up the way I would have liked. So, I thought I did a very poor job, but again, thankfully, because I have a lot of quality with Stan, we still made it around clear and just quick enough.”
As Swail looks next toward the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, he is glad to have spent the winter at DIHP.
“This is, I think, my fourth year here,” said Swail. “Honestly, the quality of the facility is second-to-none – the warm-up, the main arena, the footing, the jumps, the hospitality. It is fantastic, and it is a great place to also develop your horses for the rest of the year.”
For complete results from the $32,000 BRAINJUICE CSI4* 1.45m Classic, click here, and to learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, deserthorsepark.com.