Thermal, California, USA – December 01, 2023 – After beginning the week in a winning fashion, Conor Swail (IRL) stayed on top of the highly competitive fields in both of Thursday’s FEI classes during Desert Holiday 1, presented by Brown Advisory. With huge classes coming up with both the $268,000 Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) Team Competition Friday night and the $1 Million Coachella Cup Grand Prix CSI 5* Saturday night, Swail is building the right kind of momentum to carry him into the weekend.
Besides the victory in the $76,000 CAD Pomponio Ranch 1.50m Qualifier, Swail ended up on top again in the $39,000 FarmVet Speed CSI 2* 1.45m , this time aboard Fasole du Seigneur, owned by Alexis Sokolov. After the pair won the Two Phase Wednesday, even without one stirrup, Swail felt confident in the mare’s ability to win the class Thursday.
“She’s in my barn so I know her well enough,” Swail said of the 12-year-old Belgian Sporthorse mare (Doremi x Ogano Sitte). “But I don’t compete on her much. Funny, yesterday I got caught out a little bit at [fence] two where she just threw me up in the air and lost my stirrup. Today was much smoother after yesterday’s round. I got a good bit of information and we had a nice bit of work in the morning. She’s always very fast and careful but was really with me and jumped very correctly.”
The duo’s time of 59.97 seconds put them at the top of the 49 entries, sealing the win. Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) slid into second late in the order with Cornwall BH, while Nayel Nassar (EGY) claimed third with El Conde, owned by Evergate Stables LLC.
“She looks fussy and difficult, but she’s not,” Swail continued about the mare’s rideability. “She’s really brave and goes and jumps the jumps beautifully and she’s not as fussy as she looks. She looks all difficult but she’s actually very sweet.”
Final Results –$39,000 FarmVet Speed CSI 2*
1) Conor Swail (IRL) & Fasole du Seigneur – 0 – 59.97
2) Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) & Cornwall BH – 0 – 60.98
3) Nayel Nassar (EGY) & El Conde – 0 – 62.71
Source: Press Release from Desert International Horse Park
Photos: © DIHP/ High Desert Photo
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Categories: CSI 2*, English, Jumper News Ireland
