Conor Swail & Vital Chance de La Roque Reign in the $25,000 FarmVet Open Classic

By Jumper News on 2024-03-13

Thermal, California, USA – March 07, 2024 – Conor Swail (IRL) ran from the grass field back to the Grand Prix Arena and won again, this time in the $25,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic aboard Vital Chance de La Roque. The horse has been a solid partner of his for years, but Swail admits he is starting to feel like himself again after a brief lapse in confidence.

**Conor Swail** (IRL) & **Vital Chance de La Roque**

“I’m super happy for Vinny because I’ve been quite careful with him through this circuit,” Swail explained of having Vital Chance de La Roque back as a steady contender. “It’s been a while since he’s been in good form. He’s been quite consistent here and seems to be getting back to his old self. It’s another story of being at this place with such a good facility. It’s giving the horses every opportunity to be as good as they can be.”

Swail raced around the track later in the order, and at the time Jill Humprey (USA) led with Chromatic BF, owned by Branscomb Farms LLC. Swail just barely squeezed ahead of her time, putting Humphrey in second, while Savannah Jenkins (USA) took third aboard Vancouver SE, owned by Proper 12, LLC. Ultimately there were only six clear rounds out of 44 starters, so Peter Grant’s track proved challenging.

“I didn’t get to see much of the class but it was jumping difficult, with not many clear,” Swail commented. “My horse has a lot of quality and I was hoping to get a good result with him. He felt really good and started off well. When he’s on form he’s really super. It felt really smooth and it was quite quick. I didn’t see Jill’s round and I only just got her, so she must’ve been very quick also.”

As he has many times this season, Swail’s dog Ralph got to take the victory lap twice with his winning father.

“He’s settled in nicely just like all the horses,” Swail said of Ralph. “He enjoys his little routine coming to the horse shows. He has fun going in there when I win. He really enjoys running around, so it’s nice that the horse show doesn’t get mad at me or Ralph. I think it’s really cute.”

With one week of CSI4* action remaining, Swail will place his three horses, Theo 160, Count Me In, and Vital Chance de la Roque among the FEI and National divisions for the final week, hoping for more top results and a memorable end to Desert Circuit.